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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

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Theological   Seminary,^ 

PRINCETON,    N.J.      |<  ("^  V\  b 

Case, Divkion  ..S.S?.  .fe.Q.V 

HlieJf, Seclipp..*  rA.D.- 1 

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I 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE: 


COMPILED  FOR  THE 


AMERICAN  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION. 


BY 


J.  w.  &  J.  a/alexander. 


REVISED  BY  THE  COMMITTEE  OF  PUBLICATION  OF  THE  AMERICAN  i 

SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION.  i 


AMERICAN  SUNDAY  SCHOOL  UNION.  1 

PHILADELPHIA:  • 
No.  146  CHESNUT  STREET. 

1830.  j 


Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania,  to  wit : 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  April,  in  the  fifty 
fourth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  A  D  1830 
PAUL  BECK,  Jun.  Treasurer  in  trust  for  the  American  Sunday  School  Union  of 
the  said  District,  has  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof 
he  claims  as  proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit  :— 

"  A  Geography  of  the  Bible :  compiled  for  the  American  Sunday  School  Union 
By  J.  W.  and  J.  A.  Alexander.— Revised  by  the  Committee  of  Publication  of  the 
American  S.  S.  Union." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled,  "  An 
Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of  Maps,  Charts 
and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies,  during  the  times  therein 
mentioned"— and  also  to  the  Act,  entitled,  "  An  Act  supplementary  to  an  Act  en- 
titled, "An  Act  for  the  Encouragement  of  Learning,  by  securing  the  Copies  of 
-Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  Authors  and  Proprietors  of  such  Copies  daring 
the  times  therein  mentioned,"  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of 
designing,  engraving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 

D.  CALDWELL, 
Clerk  of  the  Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Stereotyped  by  L.  Johnson.... PhiladelpMa. 


*>■ 


PREFACE. 


In  presenting  to  the  students  of  the  Bible  a  work,  which, 
from  the  very  nature  of  the  subject,  can  lay  no  claim  to 
originality,  it  is  but  just  that  the  sources  should  be  men- 
tioned from  which  information  has  been  drawn.  The  Sa- 
cred Geography  of  Wells,  as  published  in  the  supplemen- 
tary volume  to  Calmet's  Dictionary,  has  been  consulted,  as 
well  as  more  recent  works  upon  this  branch  of  sacred  an- 
tiquities. The  Scripture  Gazetteer  of  Mansford,  published 
in  England  during  the  present  year,  reached  this  country 
about  the  time  when  our  labours  were  drawing  to  a  close. 
On  many  important  points,  however,  we  have  obtained 
new  light  from  that  valuable  compend.  The  discoveries 
of  recent  travellers,  the  opinions  of  judicious  commentators, 
and  the  various  systems  of  modern  geography,  have  not 
been  neglected ;  while  we  have  placed  most  reliance  upon 
a  sedulous  examination  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  themselves. 

We  have  had  constantly  before  us  the  elaborate  work  of 
Rosenmueller,  in  the  geographical  part  of  which,  this  sub- 
ject is  treated  in  detail— and  owe  so  much  to  his  labours, 
both  as  to  matter  and  arrangement,  that  to  withhold  this 
distinct  notice  of  our  obligation,  would  amount  to  the  de- 
nial of  a  debt.* 

The  work  now  offered  to  the  public,  is  intended  to  be  a 
manual  for  teachers  in  Sunday  schools.  It  is  believed  that 
the  only  method  by  which  correct  ideas  upon  the  geogra- 
phy of  the  Bible  can  be  communicated  to  the  pupils,  is  by 
leading  the  instructors  to  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the 
subject.     With  this  conviction,  we  have  been  unwilling  to 

*  Handbuch  der  Biblischen  Alterthumskunde,  von  Ernst  FHedr.  Karl 
/?osenmu//er.— Leipzig,  8vo.  (1823—1829.)    In  parts. 


IV  PREFACE. 

limit  ourselves  to  such  a  sketch  as  might  be  suitable  merely 
for  children  ;  while  this  compilation  may  be  read  with  pro- 
fit by  any  pupil  in  a  Sunday  school,  who  is  in  any  proper 
measure  familiar  with  common  geography. 

The  character  and  intention  of  the  following  pages  will 
be  misunderstood,  if  it  is  not  borne  in  mind  that  they  con- 
stitute a  book  of  reference,  rather  than  a  work  for  immedi- 
ate and  continuous  perusal.  And  while  we  indulge  the 
hope  that  those  who  are  solicitous  to  understand  the  vari- 
ous geographical  allusions  of  the  Bible-,  will  find  important 
assistance  in  those  outlines,  we  are  bound  to  acknowledge 
that  many  names  of  places  which  occur  in  the  sacred  writ- 
ings are  not  even  mentioned ;  for  the  simple  reason,  that 
after  some  research,  we  have  been  unable  to  arrive  at  any 
thing  more  concerning  them  than  bare  conjecture. 

The  interest  of  the  reader  in  the  description  of  countries, 
might  have  been  greatly  increased  by  a  more  enlarged  view 
of  sacred  history.  We  were  admonished  by  the  unexpected 
size  of  the  volume  to  deny  ourselves  the  satisfaction  of 
making  these  additions. 

It  is  highly  important  that  every  text  of  Scripture  to 
which  reference  is  made,  should  be  carefully  examined. 
Without  attention  to  this,  the  great  design  of  this  book,  as 
an  aid  in  the  study  of  the  Bible,  will  be  frustrated. 

James  W.  Alexander, 
J.  Addison  Alexander. 

Princeton,  April  19,  1829. 


CONTENTS. 


Eden, Page      7 

Divisions  of  the  Earth  among  the  Sons  of  Noah.    10 

The  Descendants  of  Japheth,     -         ~        -         -         11 

J,  ,,  ,,     Ham,  -         -         -         -     12 

»  „  „     Shem,        -        -        -        -    .     13 

Countries  of  Japheth's  Descendants,  -         -     14 

Armenia,  -------15 

Media,         -        -        -       ^^        -         -        -         -     17 

Elam,       -        -        -        -  '^*''  -        .         -        -         18 

Persia,  --------19 

Babylonia  and  Chaldea,  -         -         -         -         20 

Cities,  Sfc.  of  Babylonia,      -         -         -        -         -     21 

Assyria,     -         -         -         ---         -         _         24 

Remarkable  places  in  Assyria,        -        -         -         -     25 

Mesopotamia,      -------27 

Asia  Minor,  -         -         -         -         --         -29 

Divisions  of  Asia  Minor,  -         -         .         -         30 

Aram,  or  Syria,     -------     37 

Mount  Lebanon,         ------         38 

Rivers  of  Syria,  ------     39 

Divisions  of  Syria,  -         -         -         -         -         ib. 

Cities,  S^c.  -------41 

Climate,  Soil,  and  Language,     -        -        -         -         45 

Arabia,  --------46 

Arabia  Deserta,         -        -        -         -         -         -         47 

Arabia  Petrcea,     --        -         -        -         -         -51 

Arabia  Felix    -------58 

Egypt,  --------61 

Lower  Egypt,  ------        64 

Middle  Egypt,     -        -        -        -        -        -         -    66 

Upper  Egypt,  ------        ^ft. 


A 


2  5 


vi  contents. 

Ethiopia  Proper,  ------    68 

North  Africa, 69 

Countries  denominated  in  the  Bible,  The  West,     71 
Islands  of  the  Egean  Sea,  .         .        .        .        ib. 

GreecBf        --------73 

Italy,       --------76 

Spain,         --------77 

India,  --------78 

Palestine, -     ib. 

Boundaries  and  extent,  79.  Face  of  the  country,  80. 
Mountains,  81.  Caves,  87.  Plains  and  Valleys,  ib. 
Deserts  and  Forests,  92.  Lakes,  94.  Rivers  and  Brooks, 
97.  Springs,  Wells,  and  Cisterns,  100.  Fertility,  102. 
Original  inhabitants,  102.  Division  of  the  land  among 
the  twelve  tribes,  108.  Division  of  the  land  under  the 
Kings  of  Judah  and  Israel,  117.  Divisions  of  Palestine 
under  the  Romans,  118.  Peraea,  119.  Galilee,  124. 
Samaria,  132.     Judea,  139. 

Land  of  the  Philistines,  -         -         -         -         162 

Phenicia,       --------  165 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


EDEN. 

The  Geography  of  the  Bible  may  be  said  to  begin  with 
the  origin  of  the  human  race.  No  sooner  do  we  read  of 
the  creation,  of  man,  than  we  find  the  place  mentioned  in 
which  his  abode  was  fixed.  It  was  no  doubt  intended, 
that  we  should  be  informed  where  this  happy  land  was 
situated ;  for  a  number  of  circumstances  are  particularly 
stated,  as  if  to  direct  our  minds  to  the  very  spot  where  our 
first  parents  had  their  probation.  The  first  question,  there- 
fore, which  demands  an  answer,  relates  to  the  garden  of 
Eden. 

It  must  be  acknowledged,  in  the  outset,  that  our  know- 
ledge of  the  countries  which  occur  in  the  antediluvian 
history  is  very  small ;  while  at  the  same  time  we  may  be 
assured  that  nothing  has  been  withheld  in  the  inspired  re- 
cords, which  is  necessary  or  important  to  be  known.  If 
entire  satisfaction  cannot  be  attained  upon  these  subjects,  it 
is  because  no  great  practical  advantage  could  result  from 
more  minute  descriptions.  Many  pious  and  learned  men 
have  diligently  examined  all  the  existing  sources  of  in- 
formation, yet  the  opinions  of  commentators  and  geogra- 
phers are  still  various,  and  often  contradictory. 

The  residence  of  our  first  parents,  in  their  state  of  inno- 
cence and  bliss,  was  called  Eden  or  Delight.  In  seeking 
the  spot  where  this  garden  was  planted,  we  must  first  de- 
termine upon  those  marks  which  are  certainly  given  in 
the  word  of  God. 

1.  We  are  informed  (Gen.  ii.  8.)  that  Eden  was  eastward; 
that  is,  as  we  suppose,  eastward  from  the  country  of  the 
Israelites,  or  the  land  in  which  Moses  wrote.  This  term  is 
of  course  very  general  in  its  signification,  and  may  apply 
to  any  of  the  countries  upon  the  river  Euphrates,  for  they 
all  lie  to  the  east  of  Palestine. 

7 


8 


GEOGRAPHY   OF  THE  BIBLE. 


2.  We  have  the  name  of  a  river,  Euphrates,  which 
flowed  out  of  Eden,  and  which  has  retained  almost  the 
original  name,  until  the  present  day.  Upon  this  river, 
then,  in  some  part  of  its  extensive  course,  we  may,  with 
certainty,  place  the  garden  of  Eden. 

3.  We  have  a  second  river  mentioned,  namely,  the  Hid' 
dekel,  which  almost  all  historians  acknowledge  to  be  the 
Tigris,  The  eastern  names  of  the  Tigris  are  mere  abbi-e- 
viations  of  the  ancient  word,  as  Degil,  Diklath,  Diklat,  and 
Degola.  Besides  this,  the  prophet  Daniel  tells  that  he  had 
the  vision  "  of  the  latter  days,"  in  Babylonia,  by  the  side 
of  "  the  great  river,  which  is  Hiddekel."  The  only  great 
river  of  which  he  could  speak,  is  the  Euphrates,  or  Tigris, 
and  we  are  certain  that  it  was  not  the  former.  We  have 
thus  arrived  at  the  conclusion,  that  the  eastern  region  in 
which  Eden  was  situated  lay  in  some  country  where  the 
Tigris  and  the  Euphrates  approach  one  another,  as  we 
would  not  give  the  dimensions  of  some  hundreds  of  miles 
to  the  Paradise,  in  which  Adam  was  placed  "  to  dress  it 
and  to  keep  it."    (Gen.  ii.  15.) 

4.  We  find  Eden  mentioned  in  other  parts  of  Scripture ; 
and  from  the  countries  with  which  it  is  named,  we  may 
form  some  idea  of  its  situation.  In  2  Kings  xix.  12,  we 
read  of  Gozan,  and  Haran,  and  Rezeph,  and  the  children 
of  Eden  which  were  in  Thelasar.  Gozan  was  in  Media, 
Haran  and  Rezeph  in  Mesopotamia.  Again,  in  Ezekiel 
xxvii.  23,  we  read  of  Haran,  and  Canneh,  and  Eden,  and 
the  merchants  of  Sheha,  Assur,  and  Chilmad.  Canneh 
was  upon  the  Tigris,  in  ancient  Parthia,  (See  page  23.) 
and  Asshur  or  Assyria  lay  along  the  upper  part  of  the  same 
river.  Hence  the  land  of  Eden  could  not  be,  as  some 
strangely  suppose,  in  Babylonia,  but  further  north  in  Me- 
dia, Armenia,  or  Mesopotamia. 

It  remains  then  to  be  determined,  in  what  part  of  these 
rivers  we  are  to  place  the  garden  of  Eden ;  whether  at  their 
source,  in  their  middle  course,  or  near  their  junction.  The 
remarks  of  a  late  ingenious  writer  are  just  and  appropriate. 
''  We  have  seen  that  the  country  of  Eden  was  somewhere 
in  Media,  Armenia,  or  the  northern  part  of  Mesopotamia : 
all  mountainous  countries  ;  and  affording,  instead  of  the  sick- 
ening plains  of  Babylonia,  some  of  the  grandest,  as  well  as 
the  richest  scenery  in  the  world.  A  river  or  stream  rising 
in  some  part  of  this  country,  entered  the  garden  ;  where  it 


EDEN.  9 

was  parted  into  four  others  ;  in  all  probability,  by  first  fall- 
ing into  a  basin  or  lake,  from  which  the  other  streams  is- 
sued at  different  points,  taking  different  directions,  and 
growing  into  mighty  rivers  ;  although  at  their  sources  in 
the  garden  they  would  be  like  all  other  rivers,  mere  brooks, 
passed  by  a  stepping-stone,  or  a  plank,  and  forming  no 
barrier  to  a  free  communication  between  the  parts  of  the 
garden."* 

The  Euphrates  has  its  source  in  the  central  mountains 
of  Armenia,  near  the  lake  Van  or  Arsissa.  It  is  formed  by 
two  streams,  which  first  flow  west ;  after  their  junction 
near  Hebban  in  Mount  Taurus,  the-  river  bends  to  the 
S.  W.  and  joining  a  smaller  stream,  pursues  a  course  as  if  to 
reach  the  Mediterranean  ;  but  being  turned  by  the  moun- 
tains of  Caucasus,  changes  its  direction  to  S.  E ;  joins 
the  Tigris  at  Korna,  forming  the  Shatel-Arab,  which  falls 
into  the  Persian  Gulf  by  several  mouths.  Near  the  foun- 
tains of  the  Euphrates,  we  find  those  of  the  Hiddekel. 

The  Tigris  rises  near  the  head  of  the  Euphrates  ;t  that 
is  it  which  goeth  eastward  to  Assyria;  (see  the  margin, 
Gen.  ii.  14  ;)  or,  as  many  critics  translate  it,  before  Assyria. 
This  great  river  divided  Assyria  from  Mesopotamia,  and 
is,  as  has  been  said,  the  Hiddekel  of  the  Scriptures. 

The  Pison  (Gen.  ii.  11,)  is  not  so  easily  discovered,  but 
is  generally  supposed  to  be  the  Phasis  or  Absarus  of  the  an- 
cients. The  Havilah  which  is  compassed  by  this  river  is 
different  from  the  country  of  this  name,  which  is  in  Ara- 
bia, and  which  will  be  mentioned  hereafter.  It  may  rea- 
dily be  taken  for  Colchis,  between  the  Black  Sea  and  the 
Caspian.  The  river  Phasis  flows  through  Mingrelia,  and 
falls  into  the  Black  Sea.  The  country  through  which  it 
passes  was  celebrated  among  the  ancients  for  its  gold. 

The  Gihon  (Gen.  ii.  13.)  is  said  to  compass  the  whole 
land  of  Ethiopia.  The  Hebrew  word,  which  we  trans- 
late Ethiopia,  is  Cush,  a  term  used  to  denote  various  le^ 
gions,  both  in  x\sia  and  Africa.  Now  as  no  one  will  con- 
tend that  the  river  Gihon  encircled  either  Ethiopia  Proper, 
or  the  part  of  Arabia  so  called,  we  have  to  seek  for  some 
other  land  to  which  the  word  Cush  may  be  applied.  It 
is  thought  by  many  that  the  first  settlement  of  Cush,  the 

*  Scripture  Gazetteer,  by  J.  GriflBth  Mansford.  Lond.  1829.  p.  133, 
t  See  Darby's  Geographical  Dictionary, 


10  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

son  of  Ham,  was  made  in  Susiana :  (see  Elam.)  Upon  this 
supposition  we  may  take  the  Gihon  to  be  the  river  Kerah, 
which  the  Greeks  called  Gyndes,  apparently  a  corruption 
of  the  Hebrew  name.  This  river  "  encompases"  the  east- 
ern border  of  Susiana.  The  opinion,  however,  most  com- 
monly received  is,  that  this  is  the  river  Oxus,  which  is 
even  now  called  by  the  Arabs  Jihon,  and  which  falls  into 
the  Sea  of  Aral. 

Unsatisfactory  as  all  our  investigations  must  be  concern- 
ing a  country  which  was  perhaps  desolated  by  the  universal 
deluge,  we  may  still,  it  is  thought,  be  safe  in  placing  the 
garden  of  Eden  in  or  near  Armenia.  "Mr.  Faber  sup- 
poses," says  the  author  already  named,  "  that  the  Lake 
Arsissa  covers  the  site  of  Eden  ;  and  that  the  change  which 
carried  the  heads  of  the  rivers  to  a  greater  distance  from 
it,  was  occasioned  by  the  Deluge.  But  it  is  far  more  pro- 
bable that  this  change,  considering  that  the  courses  of  all 
the  streams  remain  unaltered  by  that  event,  might  have 
taken  place  at  man's  expulsion  from  the  garden ;  when 
God  may  have  chosen  to  obliterate  this  fair  portion  of  his 
works,  unfitted  for  any  thing  but  the  residence  of  inno- 
cence ;  and  to  blot  at  once  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  like 
the  guilty  cities  of  the  plain,  both  the  site  and  the  memo- 
rial of  man's  transgression — an  awful  event;  which  would 
add  tenfold  horrors  to  the  punishment." 

The  Land  of  Nod,  to  which  Cain  went,  after  the  murder 
of  Abel,  (Gen.  iv.l6.)  was  on  the  east  of  Eden.  Nothing 
further  is  known  concerning  its  situation.  As  little  has 
been  discovered  as  to  the  site  of  the  city  of  Enoch.  (Gen. 
iv.  17,) 

DIVISION  OF  TKX:  EARTH 

AMONG  THE   SONS  OF  NOAH. 

The  tenth  chapter  of  the  book  of  Genesis  contains  an 
account  of  the  descendants  of  Noah,  which,  brief  as  it  is, 
affords  the  only  clue  to  the  perplexed  history  of  nations. 
Although  the  inattentive  reader  might  pass  slightly  over 
this,  as  an  uninteresting  catalogue  of  names,  yet  it  will  be 


DIVISION  OF  THE  EARTH.  11 

found,  as  we  proceed,  that  constant  appeals  must  be  made 
to  this  inspired  document.  It  should  be  remembered  in  all 
these  inquiries,  that  the  names  of  countries  were,  in  early 
times,  scarcely  any  thing  else  than  the  names  of  their  first 
inhabitants.  Almost  every  one  of  these  persons  gave  name 
to  some  tribe  or  people ;  and  in  some  cases,  the  nation  may 
be  discovered,  when  we  find  no  record  of  the  founder,  ex- 
cept in  this  genealogical  table. 

In  seeking  to  fix  the  abode  of  these  people,  after  the 
lapse  of  thousands  of  years,  we  labour  under  great  difiicul- 
ties,  and  little  more  can,  in  many  cases,  be  expected,  than 
probable  conjectures. 

The  three  sons  of  Noah,  Shem,  Ham,  and  Japheth, 
may  be  considered  as  the  representatives  of  Asia,  Africa, 
and  Europe.  Not  that  they  were  severally  confined  to 
these  parts  of  the  earth,  but  that  this  distinction  may  for 
the  most  part  be  diseerned,  as  will  appear  from  the  follow- 
ing Table,  which  contains  the  results  at  which  learned  men 
have  arrived.  This,  in  order  to  be  understood,  must  be 
compared  with  the  tenth  chapter  of  Genesis. 

The  Descendants  of  Japheth. 

I.  Gomer;  whence  the  Cimmerians,  on  the  northern 
coast  of  the  Black  Sea. — From  him  descended, 

1.  Ashkenas ;  whose  settlement  is  unknown,  but  conjec- 
tured to  be  between  Armenia  and  the  Black  Sea. 

2.  Riphath;  the  inhabitants  of  the  Riphean  range  of 
mountains. 

3.  Togarmah;  the  Armenians. 

II.  Magog ;  from  whom  the  inhabitants  of  Caucasus, 
and  the  neighbouring  countries :  Scythians. 

III.  Madai ;  the  Medes. 

IV.  Javan  ;  the  lonians,  Greeks. — From  him, 

1 .  Elisha ;  the  Greeks,  in  a  limited  sense. 

2.  Tarshish  ;  Tartesus  in  Spain. 

3.  Kittim ;  the  Cyprians  and  other  Islanders,  and  the 
Macedonians. 

4.  Dodanim  ;  the  Dodonians  in  Epinis. 

V.  Tubal;  the  Tibarenes  of  Pontus. 


12  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

VI.  Meshech  ;  the  Moschi  of  the  Moschian  mountains, 
between  Iberia,  Armenia,  and  Pontus. 

VII.  Tiras  ;  the  Thracians,  or  people  upon  the  Dniester. 

The  Descendants  of  Ham. 

I.  Cush;  the  Ethiopians  and  South  Arabians. — From 
Cush  descended, 

1.  Nimrod;  the  first  king  of  Shinar,  or  Babylonia  and 
Mesopotamia,  where  he  built  the  cities  of  Erech,  &c.  (See 
Babylonia.) 

2.  Seba;  Meroe.  (See  Ethiopia.) 

3.  Havilah  ;  the  Hauloteans  of  South  Arabia. 

4.  Sabtah  ;  Sabota  in  South  Arabia. 

5.  Raamah;  Rhegma  in  South-eastern  Arabia. — From 
Raamah  come, 

(1.)  Shebah;  probably  in  South  Arabia. 
[2.)  Dedan  ;  Daden,  an  island  in  the  Persian  Gulf. 
Sabtecha ;  on  the  east  coast  of  Ethiopia. 

II.  Mizraim;  the  Egyptians. — From  Mizraim  come, 

1.  Ludim,      >    ^^^^1,1    African  nations. 

%.  Anamm,    )  ^  "^ 

3.  Lehabim  or  Lubim;  the  Lybians. 

4.  Naphtuhim;  between  Egypt  and  Asia. 

5.  Pathrusim  ;  in  Pathrures,  a  part  of  Egypt. 

6    Casluhim  ;  the  Colchians. — ''  Out  of  whom  came," 
Cl.^  Philistim;  the  Philistines. 
(2.)   Caphtorim ;  the  Cretans. 

III.  Phut ;  the  Mauritanians,  or  Moors. 

IV.  Canaan ;  the  original  inhabitants  of  Palestine. — 
From  Canaan  descended, 

1.  The  Sidonians,  or  Phenicians. 

2.  The  Hethites,  about  Hebron. 

3.  The  Jebusites,  in  and  around  Jerusalem. 

4.  The  Amorites,  east  and  west  of  the  Dead  Sea. 

5.  The  Girgasites. 

6.  The  Hivites,  at  the  foot  of  Hermon. 

7.  The  Arkites,  at  the  foot  of  Lebanon. 

8.  The  Sinites,  in  the  region  of  Lebanon. 


DIVISION  OF  THE  EARTH.  13 

9.  The  Arvadites,  on  the  Phenician  island  Arabus,  and 
the  opposite. coast. 

10.  The  Zemarites,  of  the  Phenician  city  Simyra. 

11.  The  Hamathites,  of  Epiphania,  on  the  Orontes. 

The  Descendants  of  Shem. 

I.  Elam;  from  whom  came  the  inhabitants  of  Elymais 
in  Persia. 

II.  Asshur ;  the  Assyrians. 

III.  Arphaxad ;  in  the  northern  part  of  Syria,    (Arra- 
pachites.) — From  him  came, 

Salah  ;  whose  descendant  was, 

Eber  ;  forefather  of  the  Hebrews,  and  from  him  came, 

1.  Peleg ;  and 

2.  Joktan ;  ancestor  of  the  following  Arab  families : 
(1.)  Almodad. 

(2.)  Sheleph ;  Selapenes  in  South  Arabia. 
/3.)  Hazarmaveth ;  of  Hadramaut. 
(4.)  Jerah ;  near  the  last. 
(5.)  Hadoram. 

(Q.S   Uzal ;  Sanaa  in  South  Arabia. 
(7.)  Diklah. 
(8.)   Ohal. 
(9.)  Abimael. 

(10.>  Sheba;  the  Sabeans,  in  South  Arabia. 
?11.)  Ophir ;  probably  in  Oman,  of  Arabia. 
^12.)  Havilah;  ofHaulan. 

(13.)  Jobab;    the   Jobabites,   between  Hadramaut  and 
Oman. 

IV.  Lud  ;  probably  origin  of  some  Ethiopian  people. 

V.  Aram;  Syrians  and  M esopotamians.  From  Aram  sprang, 

1.  Uz  ;  north  of  Arabia  Deserta. 

2.  Hul ;  perhaps  in  Coelo-Syria, 

3.  Gether. 

4.  Mash;  the  inhabitants  of  Mount  Masius,  north  of 
Nesibis. 

This  table  will  become  more  intelligible,  v/hen  we  shall 
have  examined  the  several  countries,  one  by  one. 
B 


14 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  JBIBLE. 


Countries  o/"  Japheth's  Descendants. 


The  regions  inhabited  by  the  descendants  of  Japheth, 
are  sometimes  simply  called  the  North.  (Dan.  xi.  6,  7,  8.) 
Japheth  signifies  enlargement ;  and  Providence  did  in  a 
wonderful  manner  enlarge  the  boundaries  of  Japheth.  (Gen. 
ix.  27.)  It  will  be  necessary  more  minutely  to  examine 
some  of  the  nations  mentioned  in  the  preceding  table. 

I.  Riphath.  (Gen.  x.  3.)  This  name  is  so  much  like  that 
of  the  Riphean  or  i2/iipean  mountains  spoken  of  by  the  Ro- 
mans, and  which  they  imagined  to  be  at  the  extreme  north, 
that  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  the  descendants  of  Riphath 
were  spread  over  the  northern  coasts  of  the  Black  Sea. 

II.  Gamer.  The  Cimmerians  probably  took  their  name 
from  Gomer.  They  resided  north  of  the  Black  Sea,  in  the 
country  now  called  Krim,  and  upon  the  rivers  Don  and 
Danube.  From  the  same  origin  came  the  nations  who 
were  known  under  the  various  names  of  Cimbri,  Umbri, 
and  Cambri,  in  the  northern  and  central  parts  of  Europe. 
Hence  arose  the  Gauls,  Celts,  and  Gaels.  They  are  men- 
tioned among  the  northern  nations,  which  should  accom- 
pany Gog  in  his  conquests  ;  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  6.)  Gomer  and 
all  his  hands. 

III.  Ashkenaz.  Except  in  the  list  of  the  families  of  na- 
tions, (Gen.  X.)  we  find  Ashkenaz  only  once  named  in  the 
Bible,  (Jer.  li.  27.)  and  then  in  connexion  with  Ararat  and 
Minni,  provinces  of  Armenia.  The  utmost  which  we  are 
able  to  say  of  this  nation  is,  that  it  was  near  mount  Cauca- 
sus, east  and  south-east  of  the  Black  Sea. 

IV.  Gog  9.nd  Magog.  Gog  is  generally  supposed  to  be 
the  name  of  the  people,  and  Magog  the  name  of  the  coun- 
try^ which  comprehended  the  northern  parts  of  Armenia, 
the  space  between  the  Black  Sea  and  the  Caspian,  and  the 
borders  of  Scythia.  (Gen.  x.  2,  Ezek.  xxxviii.  2.)  We 
shall  not  attempt  to  answer  the  question  concerning  the 
Gog  and  Magog  of  the  Revelation,  (xx.  7 — 9,)  which  be- 
longs to  the  interpretation  of  prophecy. 

IV.  Meshech  and  Tubal,  are  named  in  connexion  with 


DIVISION  OF  THE  EAJITH. 


15 


Magog,  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  2,)  and  are  almost  always  united  in 
the  scriptural  notices  of  them.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  13,  xxxii.  26, 
xxxix.  1.)  In  like  manner  the  Greek  writers  place  the  Mos^ 
chi  and  Tibareni  in  conjunction :  these  are  probably  the  same 
people.  They  inhabited  the  regions  south  of  the  chain  of 
Caucasus,  from  the  S.  E.  part  of  the  Black  Sea  to  the  river 
Aras,  or  Araxes.  They  traded  with  Tyre  in  persons  of  men, 
and  vessels  of  brass :  (Ezek.  xxvii.  13;)  the  Circassians,  who 
inhabit  this  part  of  the  world,  have  been  noted,  for  ages,  as 
slave-dealers  ;  while  travellers  inform  us  that  copper  is 
abundant  in  mount  Caucasus.  When  the  Psalmist  speaks 
(Ps.  cxx.  5,)  of  Mesech  and  Kedar,  he  may  be  understood 
to  signify  northern  and  southern  barbarians. 

VI.  Togarmah,  Ararat,  and  Minni.  These  names  are 
here  set  in  conjunction,  because  they  denote  a  single  country, 
Armenia. — Togarmah  is  mentioned  with  Gomer,  (Gen.  x. 
3,  Ezek.  xxxviii.  5,)  and  also  with  Meshech  and  Tubal, 
(Ezek.  xxvii.  14.J  The  history  and  traditions  of  the  Ar- 
menians represent  them  as  the  descendants  of  Togarmah, 
At  the  same  time  it  should  be  mentioned  that  Bochart  and 
Wells  suppose  Togarmah  to  be  Cappadocia. 

We  read  not  only  of  mount  Ararat ;  but  of  the  kingdom  of 
Ararat ;  (Jer.  li.  27.  Isa.  xxxvii.  38,  margin ;  2  Kings  xix. 
37,  margin ;)  this  was  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  Armenia. 

Minni,  (Jer.  li.  27,)  seems  to  be  the  ancient  Minyas, 
near  to  mount  Ararat,  and  either  a  part  of  Armenia,  or  an 
adjacent  district.  Under  this  head  it  will  be  proper  to 
consider 

ARMENIA. 

The  boundaries  of  Armenia  may  be  thus  stated :  Colchis 
and  Iberia  on  the  north  ;  Media  on  the  east ;  Mesopotamia  on 
the  south ;  Pontus  and  Cappadocia  on  the  west;  and  the  Eu- 
phrates and  Syria  on  the  S.  west.  From  the  earliest  times, 
this  country  has  been  divided  into  two  parts,  Cheater  and 
Less  Armenia.  The  latter  is  now  a  part  of  Natolia,  lying 
upon  the  western  side  of  the  Euphrates.  It  includes  por- 
tions of  Cappadocia,  Cihcia,  and  Pontus, — or  the  modern 
Caramania,  Merash,  and  Siva,  and  is  under  Turkish  go- 
vernment. Greater  Armenia  is  on  the  east  of  the  Euphrates, 
separated  by  mount  Taurus  from  Mesopotamia  and  Kurdis- 


16         ,  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

tan,  (or  ancient  Assyria,)  and  contains  fifteen  provinces, 
nine  of  which  belong  to  Persia.  Armenia  has  been  con- 
sidered by  travellers  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  fertile 
countries  of  the  earth. 

Ararat  was  that  part  of  Persian  Armenia  in  which  is 
found  the  modern  Erivan.  (Lon.  44°  10'  E.  lat.  40°  20'  N.) 
Mount  Ararat,  upon  which  the  ark  rested,  is  unanimously 
agreed  to  be  Mount  Masis,  called  by  the  Turks  Agridah, 
in  the  north-east  part  of  Armenia.  It  has  two  peaks  called 
the  Greater  and  Lesser  Ararat.  The  discoveries  of  modern 
travellers  have  placed  it  beyond  a  doubt  that  this  is  the 
true  Mount  Ararat.  Since  the  days  of  Noah,  it  is  probable 
that  no  human  being  has  reached  its  summit :  "  the  impos- 
sibility of  reaching  its  extreme  summit,"  says  Mr.  Morier, 
"  was  decided  some  years  ago,  by  the  Pasha  of  Beyazid. 
He  offered  large  rewards  to  any  one  who  should  reach  the 
top ;  but  although  many  Curds,  who  live  at  its  base,  have 
attempted  it,  all  have  been  equally  unsuccessful."  These 
heights,  the  snow  and  ice  of  which  are  sometimes  visible 
nearly  200  miles  off,  are  at  least  15,000  feet  in  altitude.* 

The  early  history  of  Armenia  is  involved  in  obscurity. 
If  the  profane  historians  are  to  be  believed,  the  first  kings 
of  Armenia,  whose  names  are  scarcely  known,  were  dis- 
placed by  Ninus,  king  of  Assyria.  We  can  arrive  at  little 
that  is  credible,  until  the  time  of  Astyages,  king  of  Media, 
who  subdued  the  country  and  made  its  kings  tributary. 
When  Media,  in  its  turn  was  conquered  by  Cyrus,  Armenia 
became  a  province  of  the  Persian  Empire  ;  and  again  under 
another  conqueror,  Alexander  the  Great,  was  annexed  to 
the  Macedonian  dominions.  Antiochus  the  Great,  of  Syria, 
was  afterwards  their  sovereign,  but  lost  the  greater  part  of 
Armenia  by  a  rebellion.  Artaxias  then  reigned  as  an  inde- 
pendent king  of  Greater  Armenia.  The  Romans  and  Par- 
thians  long  contended  for  the  throne,  until  finally  it  be- 
came, under  Trajan,  a  Roman  province. 

VII.  Scythians.  The  Apostle  Paul  speaks  (Col.  iii.  11,) 
of  "  Barbarians  and  Scythians."  This  name  was  used  in  an- 
cient times  to  denote,  not  only  a  particular  people,  but  all 
those  wandering  tribes  whose  residence  was  north  and  east 
of  the  Black  and  Caspian  Seas.  The  Apostle  seems  to  speak 

*  Mansford, 


DIVtSION  OF  THE  EARTH.  17 

of  the  Scythians,  meaning  barbarous  nations  in  general. 
Beth-shean,  (Josh.  xvii.  11,  16,)  is  supposed  to  have  been 
called  Scythopolis,  or  City  of  the  Scythians,  from  some  oc- 
currence during  the  invasion  of  Palestine  by  these  tribes, 
probably  631  years  before  Christ. 

MEDIA. 

Media  was  called  by  the  Hebrews  Madai,  (Gen.  x.  2,) 
and  lay  south  and  west  of  the  Caspian  sea,  south  of  Arme- 
nia, and  north  of  Persia,  including  the  provinces  now  called 
Azerbijan,  Ghilan,  Mazanderan,  and  Irak-Adjemi.  This 
country,  which  is  rather  greater  in  extent  than  Spain,  lies 
between  35°  and  40°  N.  lat.  and  was  among  the  richest  and 
most  fruitful  kingdoms  of  Asia.  It  is  divided  into  two  parts ; 
Atropatene  or  Lesser  Media  on  the  N.  west ;  and  Greater 
Media  on  the  south.  Atropatene  is  now  called  Azerbijan, 
The  wealth  of  this  land  is  now  almost  at  an  end,  and  its 
fields  and  towns  have  become  deserted  under  a  despotic 
government.  Cheater  Media  (now  Irak-Adjemi)  is  a  moun- 
tainous country,  with  many  fertile  valleys.  Its  climate  is 
temperate  and  its  atmosphere  healthful.  The  skies  of  Per- 
sian Irak,  like  those  of  Italy,  are  proverbially  beautiful. 
Those  regions,  however,  which  are  near  the  Caspian  sea, 
are  unhealthy,  though  abundant  in  fruits  and  grain. 

Achmetha  or  Ecbatana,  the  chief  city  of  Media,  is  men- 
tioned in  the  book  of  Ezra,  (vi.  2,)  as  the  place  where  the 
records  of  the  kingdom  were  preserved.  In  the  Apocry- 
pha, (Jud.  i.  2 — 10,)  may  be  found  some  description  of  this 
city,  which  was  splendid  and  well  fortified.  Its  place  is 
occupied,  as  is  supposed,  by  the  modern  city  of  Hamadan, 
(lat.  34°  54'  N.  long.  46°  E.) 

Media  was  subject  to  the  Assyrian  Empire  until  the  time 
of  Tiglath-Pileser,  (Arbaces)  who  usurped  the  government 
of  both  countries.  This  monarch  carried  many  of  the 
Israelites  east  of  Jordan  to  Media.  (2  Kings  xv.  29,  1 
Chron.  v.  26.)  A  revolt  in  the  time  of  Sennacherib,  the 
grandson  of  Tiglath-Pileser,  separated  Media  from  Assyria : 
Dejoces  was  then  their  king.  After  many  conflicts  with 
the  Assyrians,  he  left  the  kingdom  to  Phraortes,  who  added 
Persia  to  his  realm.  (See  p.  19.) 

Cyaxares,  the  son  of  Phraortes,  took  and  destroyed 
Nineveh,  and  his  son  Astyages  was  his  successor.  Cyax- 
b2 


18  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

ares  the  second,  the  uncle  of  Cyrus  the  Great,  gave  up  the 
kingdom  to  his  more  celebrated  nephew,  under  whom  Per- 
sia and  Media  became  one  kingdom. 

The  Medes  were  employed,  in  the  hand  of  God,  as  the 
instruments  for  executing  his  decrees  against  Babylon  :  Be- 
hold, I  will  stir  up  the  Medes  against  them.  (Isa.  xiii.  17, 
18,  xxi.  2,  3. )  Their  punishment  was  also  foretold  by  Jere- 
remiah,  (xxv.  25,)  who  says  that  they  were  to  drink  of 
the  cup  of  the  wrath  of  God :  which  was  fulfilled  undei 
Cyrus.  Darius  succeeded  to  the  kingdom  of  Belshazzar, 
king  of  Chaldea,  and  was  himself  succeeded  by  Cyrus. 
After  this  the  Medes  and  Persians  are  mentioned  as  belong- 
ing to  one  empire. 

ELAM. 

The  nation  which  descended  from  Elam,  the  son  of 
Shem,  (Gen.  x.  22,)  is  named  in  conjunction  with  the 
king  of  Shinar,  (Gen.  xiv.  1,)  and  in  other  places,  (Isa. 
xxi.  2,  Jer.  xxv.  25,)  with  Media.  The  Elamites  appear 
(Ezr.  iv.  9,)  among  the  people  of  the  Persian  empire,  and 
Daniel  is  said  to  have  resided  at  Shushan,  which  is  in  the 
vrovince  of  Elam.  (Dan.  viii.  2.)  The  Greeks  and  Romans 
gave  this  country  the  name  of  Elymais.  It  made  a  part  of 
the  ancient  Susiana,  now  called  Kusistan.  Susiana,  oi 
Kusistan,  the  Elam  of  the  Bible,  is  bounded  by  Persia  or 
Farsistan  on  the  east ;  Babylonia  on  the  west ;  Media  on  the 
north;  and  the  Persian  gulf  on  the  south.  In  the  northern 
and  eastern  parts  it  is  mountainous,  in  the  southern  portion, 
upon  the  sea,  low  and  marshy.  The  Elamites  or  Ely- 
maeans  were  a  warlike  people,  celebrated  for  their  use  of  the 
bow.  (Isa.  xxii.  6,  Jer.  xlix.  35.) 

Shushan,  the  capital  of  Elam,  was  situated  upon  the  an- 
cient Choaspes,  now  called  Kerrah.  It  was  called  Susa  by 
the  Greeks,  and  is  said  to  have  been  15  miles  in  circum- 
ference. Here  stood  the  celebrated  palace  of  Ahasuerus, 
(Esth.  i.  5,)  and  amongst  its  ruins,  the  inhabitants  still  pre- 
tend to  show  the  tomb  of  the  prophet  Daniel.  Ezekiel 
speaks  of  Elam  as  a  great  and  terrible  nation,  (xxxii.  24,) 
which  should  be  visited  by  the  judgments  of  God.  After 
being  subdued  by  the  Chaldeans,  Shushan  became  the  resi- 
dence of  their  kings.  (Dan.  viii.  1,  2.)  Elamites  are  named 
(Acts  ii.  9,)  together  with  Medes  and  Parthians,  as  being 


PERSIA. 


19 


present  at  the  miraculous  occurrences  of  the  day  of  Pente- 
cost. The  history  of  Elam  as  a  separate  country  is  not  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Scriptures,  as  in  later  ages  it  was  a  part  of 
the  Persian  Empire. 


PERSIA. 

The  country  which  we  know  under  the  name  of  Persia, 
was  called  by  the  Hebrews  Paras,  by  the  Greeks  Persis, 
and  by  its  inhabitants  Fars.  It  is  bounded  by  Kerman  or 
Caramania  on  the  east ;  by  Irak-Adjemi  or  Southern  Me- 
dia on  the  north  ;  by  Laristan  and  the  Persian  Gulf  on  the 
south  ;  and  by  Kusistan  on  the  West.  The  country  with- 
in these  limits  is  about  equal  in  extent  to  France.  But 
while  these  are  the  boundaries  of  Persia  Proper,  it  is  to  be 
observed  that  the  Persian  empire  was  far  more  extensive, 
including,  at  some  periods,  both  Elam  and  Media, 

Within  limits  so  large  as  those  abovementioned,  great 
varieties  of  soil  and  climate  are  to  be  expected.  The 
southern  part,  which  lies  upon  the  sea,  is  a  sandy  plain, 
rendered  almost  uninhabitable  by  the  heat  and  drought, 
and  the  prevalence  of  the  pestilential  wind.  The  interior 
and  northern  districts,  on  the  contrary,  contain  high  lands 
of  great  beauty  and  fertility,  lofty  mountains,  and  valleys 
covered  with  verdure.  The  vale  of  Shiraz  is  celebrated  for 
its  cattle,  its  fruits,  and  its  wine,  as  well  as  for  its  healthful 
atmosphere.  In  the  northern  parts  of  Farsistan  the  moun- 
tains, which  branch  out  from  the  range  of  Taurus,  are  high 
and  rugged,  and  the  valleys  are  inhabited  principally  by 
wandering  shepherds  and  herdsmen.  The  geography  of 
Persia  Proper  is  scarcely  alluded  to  in  the  Bible,  though  its 
history  deserves  to  be  carefully  studied  as  illustrating  that 
of  the  Hebrews. 

The  early  inhabitants  of  Persia  appear  to  have  main- 
tained an  independent  government  for  some  centuries,  until 
being  subdued,  they  became  subject  to  the  Assyrian  em- 
pire. From  this  state  of  dependence  they  were  in  a  mea- 
sure delivered  by  Arbaces  or  Tiglath-Pileser,  and  for  some 
time  had  at  least  the  appearance  of  a  separate  kingdom. 
They  were  conquered  and  made  a  part  of  the  Median  king- 
dom by  Phraortes.    The  celebrated  Cyrus  united  Persia 


20  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE 

and  Media  as  one  kingdom,  about  500  years  before  Christ 
It  was  he  who  took  Babylon,  restored  the  Jews,  and  order- 
ed the  rebuilding  of  Jerusalem  and  the  temple,  and  who 
was  predicted  by  name,  as  the  shepherd  of  the  Lord,  and 
the  deliverer  of  Israel.  (Isa.  xliv.  28,  xlv.)  The  successors 
of  Cyrus,  as  given  by  Ezra,  are  Ahasuerus,  Artaxerxes, 
Darius,  and  Artaxerxes.  Ahasuerus  was  Cambyses,  the 
conqueror  of  Egypt.  Artaxerxes  is  the  king  elsewhere 
called  Smerdis  the  Magian,  by  whose  decree  the  rebuilding 
of  Jerusalem  was  stopped.  Darius  has,  in  profane  history, 
the  additional  name  of  Hystaspes.  Under  his  patronage 
the  temple  was  finished.  Xerxes,  who  is  omitted  by  Ezra, 
as  having  no  connexion  with  sacred  history,  but  who  is 
named  by  Daniel,  was  the  celebrated  invader  of  Greece. 
Artaxerxes  Longimanus  (so  called  from  the  length  of  his 
handsj  is  supposed  to  be  the  Ahasuerus  of  the  book  of 
Esther.  With  this  prince  ends  the  history  of  Persia  as 
connected  with  the  Scriptures. 

BABirZiONIA  AND  CHAZ.DISA. 

It  is  easy  to  determine  the  general  situation  of  this 
great  country,  which  lay  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Eu- 
phrates, while  its  particular  boundaries  are  not  so  evident. 
The  Persian  Gulf  was  certainly  its  southern  limit ;  on  other 
sides  it  is  more  difficult  to  draw  the  line.  Perhaps  we 
may  place  Mesopotamia  and  Assyria  on  the  north ;  Persia 
and  Susiana  on  the  east ;  and  the  stony  and  desert  Arabia 
on  the  west.  This  country  is  now  called  Babylonian  or 
Arabian  Irak.  The  south-western  part  of  Babylonia,  upon 
the  borders  of  the  Arabian  desert  is  called  the  land  of  the 
Chaldeavs,  or  Chaldea,  by  Jeremiah,  (xxiv.  5,  xxv.  12, 
1.  8,)  and  Ezekiel,  (xii.  13.)  The  two  names  Babylonia 
and  Chaldea  are  generally  applied  to  the  same  country.  Its 
ancient  name  was  Shinar.  Nimrod  built  a  city  sailed  Ba- 
bel, in  the  land  of  Shinar ;  (Gen.  x.  10.)  The  spoils  of 
the  temple,  as  we  are  told,  (Dan.  i.  1,  2,)  were  carried  into 
this  country.  By  the  prophet  Isaiah  (xxi.  1,)  it  is  named 
the  desert  of  the  sea,  perhaps  because  the  overflowing  of 
the  Euphrates  resembled  a  sea. 

Babylonia  is  a  level  country,  subjected  to  constant  inun- 


BABYLONIA    AND    CHALDEA.  21 

datioDS  from  its  two  great  rivers,  especially  from  the  Eu- 
phrates, which  has  the  lower  banks.  In  consequence  of 
this  it  was  intersected  by  numerous  canals,  some  of  which 
were  remarkably  large.  These  are  minutely  described  by 
ancient  writers.  Hence  it  was  said  to  dwell  upon  many 
waters.  (Jer.  li.  13.) 

The  climate  of  this  country  is  such  as  to  be  agreeable 
and  healthful  during  most  of  the  year,  notwithstanding  the 
prevalence  of  great  heat.  There  is  little  rain,  even  in  win- 
ter, and  the  atmosphere  is  peculiarly  clear.  The  ancients ' 
speak  of  it  as  a  land  eminent  for  its  fertility.  It  was  rich 
in  grain  and  in  dates,  but  produced  no  vines,  figs,  or  olives. 

CITIES  AND  REMARKABLE  PLACES  IN  BABYLONIA. 

I.  Babel,  or  Babylon,  was  the  chief  city  of  the  king- 
dom, and  is  called  by  Jeremiah,  (1.  12,)  the  mother,  or  me- 
tropolis, of  Chaldea.  It  is  also  called  Sheshach.  It  was, 
probably  the  first  city  built  after  the  flood,  by  Nimrod, 
upon  the  same  ground  where  the  tower  of  Babel  stood,  and 
where  the  memorable  confusion  of  tongues  took  place. 
(Gen.  xi.  1 — 9.)  All  that  relates  to  the  early  history  of 
this  city  is  so  obscure,  and  the  accounts  of  the  heathen  so 
contradictory,  that  an  entire  silence  seems  most  judicious. 
Its  situation  was  about  32°  25'  north  latitude,  and  44"  east 
longitude  from  Greenwich. 

Nebuchadnezzar  raised  this  city  to  its  greatest  glory,  so 
that  it  became  the  seat  of  universal  empire,  and  the  wonder 
of  the  world.  "  The  city,  at  that  period,  stood  on  both 
sides  the  river,  which  intersected  it  in  the  middle.  It  was, 
according  to  the  least  computation,  45  miles  in  circum- 
ference ;  and  according  to  Herodotus,  60  miles.  Its  shape 
was  that  of  a  square,  traversed  each  way  by  25  principal 
streets;  which  of  course  intersected  each  other,  dividing 
the  city  into  625  squares.  The  walls,  from  the  most  mo- 
derate accounts,  were  75  feet  in  height,  and  32  in  breadth ; 
while  Herodotus  makes  them  300  in  height  and  75  in 
breadth." — "  They  were  built  of  brick,  cemented  with 
bitumen  instead  of  mortar,  and  were  encompassed  by  a 
broad  and  deep  ditch,  lined  with  the  same  materials,  as 
were  also  the  banks  of  the  river  in  its  course  through  the 
city.  The  houses  were  three  or  four  stories  high,  sepa- 
rated from  each  other  by  small  courts  or  gardens,  with  open 


22 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


spaces,  and  even  fields,  interspersed  over  the  immense  area 
enclosed  within  the  walls.  Over  the  river  was  a  bridge, 
connecting  the  two  halves  of  the  city,  which  stood,  the  one 
on  its  eastern  and  the  other  on  its  western  bank.  The 
bridge  was  five  furlongs  in  length  and  30  feet  in  breadth, 
and  had  a  palace  at  each  end,  with,  (as  is  said,)  a  sub- 
terraneous passage  from  one  to  the  other.  Within  the 
city  was  the  temple  of  Belus,  or  Jupiter,  which  is  described 
as  a  square  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile."  [Abridged  from  Hans- 
ford's Bib.  Gaz.]  The  reader  may  find  in  various  histories, 
particular  descriptions  of  this  tower,  and  also  of  the  palaces, 
and  the  hanging  gardens. 

With  justice  might  such  a  place  be  called  great,  (Jer.  li. 
58,)  "  the  glory  of  kingdoms,  the  beauty  of  the  Chaldees' 
excellency,"  (Isa.  xiii.  19,)  and  a  proud  and  luxurious  city, 
(Isa.  xlvii.  1 — 8.)  In  the  Revelation  of  John  it  is  used  as 
a  type  of  the  Roman  power.  (Rev.  xiv.  8,  xvi.  19,  xvii. 
5,  xviii.  10.) 

The  first  notice  of  a  king  of  Babylon  in  the  Scriptures, 
is  during  the  reign  of  Hezekiah,  when  Berodach-baladan 
sent  letters  and  presents  to  congratulate  the  king  of  Judah 
upon  his  recovery.  (2  Kings  xx.  12.)  This  Baladan  was 
the  first  independent  king  of  Babylon,  after  their  deliver- 
ance from  Assyrian  power,  and  is  elsewhere  called  Nabo- 
nassar  and  Belesis.  About  747  years  before  Christ,  this 
prince,  with  Arbaces  of  Media,  (Tiglath-Pileser,)  besieged 
Nineveh,  and  obtaining  the  victory,  divided  the  former 
Assyrian  monarchy  into  the  two  kingdoms  of  Nineveh  and 
Babylon.  After  several  reigns  Babylon  became  again  sub- 
ject to  those  kings  of  Assyria  who  are  so  often  named  in 
the  history  of  the  Jews  ;  viz.  Tiglath-Pileser,  Sennache- 
rib, and  Esarhaddon.  Under  Nabopolassar,  Babylon  be- 
came independent  of  Assyria,  and  the  seat  of  universal 
empire.  This  king  was  the  father  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
who  extended  his  conquests  as  far  as  Palestine,  took  Jeru- 
salem, and  made  Judea  tributary.  His  son  Evil-Merodach 
(2  Kings  xxv.  7,  Jer.  lii.  31,)  was  murdered  by  his  bro- 
ther-in-law Neriglissar,  who  then  ascended  the  throne. 
Then  follow  Laborosoarchod,  and  Nabonadius  or  Belshaz- 
zar.  (Dan.  v.  1.)  According  to  the  prophecies,  Babylon 
was,  in  a  remarkable  manner,  destroyed  by  Cyrus.  (Jer. 
xxv.  11,  12,  Isa.  xlv.  1 — i,  Jer.  li.  11,  Isa.  xiii.  17,  xxi. 
2,  Jer.  1.  38,  li.  36,  1.  ^,  li.  39,  57.)     In  these  predictions 


BABYLONIA    AND    CHALDEA.  23 

almost  every  circumstance  of  the  siege  and  capture  is  dis- 
tinctly foretold. 

The  glory  of  Babylon  passed  away  according  to  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  so  that  it  has  been  difficult,  in  modern 
times,  to  discover  the  place  where  it  stood.  Within  a  few 
years,  however,  it  seems  to  be  made  certain  that  the  spot 
is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town  of  Hilleh,  in  the  Pachalic  of 
Bagdad.  Here  remains  a  prodigious  monument,  conjec- 
tured to  have  belonged  to  the  great  tower.  Innumerable 
quantities  of  bricks  have  been  dug  up,  many  of  which  con- 
tain inscriptions ;  also  lines  of  brick-work,  and  old  founda- 
tions. These  caverns  and  ruins  are  infested  by  wild  beasts, 
so  as  to  be  often  inaccessible. 

II.  Dura,  an  extensive  plain  around  Babylon,  where 
Nebuchadnezzar  erected  the  golden  image.  (Dan.  iii.  1.) 

III.  Erech,  was  a  city  built  by  Nimrod.  (Gen.  x.  10.) 
This  was  called  Erecca  and  Aracca  by  the  Greeks,  and  is 
supposed  to  be  the  place  upon  the  river  Tigris,  near  the 
borders  of  Susiana,  whence  the  Archevites  were  brought 
by  Esarhaddon  to  colonize  Samaria.    (Ezra  iv.  9.) 

IV.  Acad,  or  Achad,  another  city  of  Shinar,  built  by 
Nimrod.  (Gen.  x.  10.)  It  is  also  called  Arch  ad.  Scarcely 
any  thing  is  known  of  its  position.  About  six  miles  from 
Bagdad  a  ruin  is  found,  at  a  place  called  Akar-kouff,  which 
(it  is  imagined)  marks  the  spot  where  Achad  was  built. 

V.  Calneh,  is  the  fourth  of  Nimrod's  cities.  Probably 
the  same  with  Calno,  (Isa.  x.  9.)  and  Canneh,  (Ezek. 
xxvii.  23.)  It  stood  upon  the  Tigris,  and  was  known  by 
the  Greeks  under  the  name  of  Ctesiphon.  It  was  long  the 
chief  city  of  the  Parthians.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  place 
of  note,  (Amos  vi.  2,  Isa.  x.  9,)  and  is  mentioned  by  Eze- 
kiel  as  a  town  which  traded  with  Tyre,  (xxvii.  23.) 

VI.  Cutha,  a  region  about  the  lower  Euphrates.  (2 
Kings  xvii.  24.) 

Babylonia  was  a  country  well  situated  for  commerce.  Its 
great  navigable  rivers  opened  to  it  the  trade  of  Syria  and 
Asia  Minor  from  above,  and  of  India,  Persia,  Arabia,  and 


24  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Africa  from  below.  Babylon  was  the  centre  to  which  all 
the  treasures  of  merchandize  were  brought.  It  was  a  land 
of  traffic,  a  city  of  merchants.  (Ezek.  xvii.  4.)  The  looms 
of  Chaldea  produced  wares  which  were  precious  in  the 
earliest  times.  We  read  of  a  goodly  Babylonish  garment, 
(Jos.  vii.  21,)  more  than  1400  years  before  Christ.  It  was 
a  country,  also,  where  the  sciences  were  cultivated,  al- 
though perhaps  in  a  manner  rather  superstitious  than  pro- 
found. They  had  their  astrologers,  star-gazers,  and  monthly 
proguosticators ;  (Isa.  xlvii.  13,  Dan.  i.  20,  ii.  2,  10,  27, 
iv.  7,  V.  7,  11.) 

The  language  of  Chaldea  was  not  unlike  that  of  the 
Hebrews ;  and  some  parts  of  the  Old  Testament  are  writ- 
ten in  Chaldee. 


ASS7RXA. 

'w  Assyria  derives  its  name  from  the  Hebrew  Asshur,  the 
second  son  of  Shem.  (Gen.  x.  22.)  As  the  Greeks  called 
him  Assur,  the  name  of  the  country  very  naturally  became 
Assyria.  It  has  been  doubted  whether  Nimrod  or  Asshur 
was  the  first  settler  of  this  country.  In  the  verse  above 
cited,  the  words  may  be  rendered  as  in  the  margin,  "  Out 
of  that  land  he  (Nimrod)  went  into  Assyria;"  and  the 
opinion  is  most  probable  that  Nimrod  was  the  founder. 

Assyria  Proper  is  to  be  distinguished  from  the  kingdom 
of  Assyria,  in  the  same  way  as  China  is  distinguished  from 
the  Chinese  Empire  ;  the  latter  term  being  used  to  denote 
in  general  those  adjacent  countries  which  were  at  various 
times  subject  to  the  kings  of  Assyria. 

Assyria  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Armenia,  the  Gor- 
dian  mountains,  and  mount  Niphates  ;  on  the  west  by  the 
Tigris  and  Mesopotamia;  on  the  south  by  Persia;  and  on 
the  east  by  Media.  This  country,  with  Kurdistan,  is  now 
subject  to  the  Pacha  of  Mosul.  It  is  a  well  watered  and 
fruitful  land,  and  once  enjoyed  extensive  commerce.  Grain, 
fruits,  wine,  cotton,  and  manna  are  produced  in  abundance. 
Hence  the  praises  of  the  wicked  Rab-shakeh,  (2  Kings  xvii. 
32,  Isa.  xxxvi.  17.) 

The  Tigris  is  the  principal  river  of  Assyria,  and  was 
called  Hiddekel  by  the  Hebrews.     The  greater  and  the 


ASSYRIA.  25 

smaller  Zab-  or  Dsab,  run  into  this  river  from  the  east  in  a 
direction  almost  parallel. 

Assyria  was  divided  into  six  provinces,  of  which  the 
most  northern  was  Arrapachitis  or  Arphaxad.  (Gen.  x.  2-2,. 
24.)  South  of  this  was  Calachene,  supposed  to  be  the  Ha- 
lah  or  Chalach  mentioned  2  Kings  xvii.  6,  xviii.  11.  Fur- 
ther south  was  Adiabene.  North-east  of  the  last  lay  Arbe- 
litis.  South  of  these  Apolloniaris  ;  and  bordering  on  Susi- 
ana  was  Sittakene. 

REMARKABLE  PLACES  IN  ASSYRU. 

I.  Nineveh  was  the  capital  of  Assyria,  (2  Kings  xix.  36, 
Isa.  xxxvii.  37,  Jon.  iii.  6,  Nah.  ii.  8.)  The  name  means 
"  the  dwelling-place  of  Ninus."  It  was  situated  on  the 
eastern  bank  of  the  Tigris,  opposite  to  the  place  where 
Mosul  now  stands,  and  ruins  are  still  pointed  out  as  the  re- 
mains of  this  ancient  city.  It  was  probably  founded  by 
Nimrod,  who  was  also  called  Ninus.  The  ancient  name 
may  be  recognized  in  Numia,  a  village  which  is  there  at 
present.  Nineveh  was  little  inferior  in  size  to  Babylon. 
The  dimensions  given  in  history  are  as  follows :  19  miles 
in  length,  11  in  breadth,  and  60  in  circumference.  From 
what  is  said  in  Jonah,  (ch.  iv.  11,)  we  might  calculate  the 
number  of  its  inhabitants,  at  the  least,  at  600,000.  It  was 
"a  city  of  three  day's  journey,"  (Jon.  iii.  3,)  or  60  miles 
in  circuit.  The  walls  are  said  to  have  been  a  hundred  feet 
high,  and  wide  enough  for  three  chariots  to  pass  abreast, 
and  fortified  by  1500  towers,  each  200  feetin  height.  Accord- 
ing to  prophecy,  it  was  destroyed  by  the  aid  of  its  great 
river,  and  in  a  sudden  and  terrible  manner,  (Nah.  i.  10, 
ii.  6,)  by  the  Medes  and  Babylonians.  It  was  a  wicked 
and  luxurious  city,  and  hence  was  destined  to  be  smitten 
by  the  judgments  of  God,  as  he  declared  by  his  prophets, 
(Nah.  iii.  1,  Zeph.  ii.  13—15.) 

II.  Rehoboth  ;  a  city  built  by  the  founder  of  Nineveh, 
(Gen.  X.  11,  12,)  as  were  also  the  two  which  follow.  Of 
this  place  nothing  is  known.  Let  it  be  distinguished 
from  the  birth-place  of  Saul,  king  of  Idumea.  (Gen. 
xxxvi.  37.) 

III.  Calah,  (Gen.  x.  12,)  is  supposed  by  Dr.  Wells  to  be 

C 


26  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLfi. 

the  same  with  Halah.     The  general  opinion  is,  however, 
that  it  was  upon  the  Zad,  or  Lyons. 

IV.  Kir,  to  which  the  conquered  Damascenes  were 
exiled,  (2  Kings  xvi.  9,  Amos  i.  5,)  did  not  strictly  lie  within 
Assyria,  but  was  under  Assyrian  dominion.  Hence  the 
Syrians  are  said,  (Amos  ix.  7,)  to  have  been  brought.  It 
was  probably  a  region  near  the  river  Kur,  or  Kuros,  which 
flows  between  the  Black  Sea  and  the  Caspian,  and  falls  into 
the  latter,  after  uniting  with  the  Araxes.  This  is  about  the 
site  of  the  modern  Georgia. 

V.  Hahor  was  a  place  on  the  river  Gozan,  where  Shal- 
maneser  placed  a  part  of  the  captive  Israelites,  (2  Kings 
xvii.  6.)  It  is  thought  to  be  the  mountainous  tract  be- 
tween Assyria  and  Media.  The  river  Gozan  is  that  which 
is  now  called  Kisil-Osan. 

It  is  not  known  whether  there  was  an  uninterrupted 
line  of  kings  from  Asshur  or  Nimrod  to  Sardanapalus.  The 
first  monarch  mentioned  in  the  Bible  is  Pul,  who,  about 
770  years  before  Christ,  made  Menahem,  king  of  Israel, 
tributary  to  the  x\ssyrians.  (2  Kings  xv.  19.)  Sardanapalus 
is  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of  Pul.  He  was  besieged, 
as  has  already  been  said,  by  Arbaces  and  Belesis,  and  in 
despair  set  fire  to  his  palace,  and  was  consumed ;  before 
Christ  747.  Arbaces,  or  Tiglath-Pileser,  then  fixed  his 
seat  of  government  at  Nineveh,  and  proceeded  to  invade 
Palestine,  and  carried  the  inhabitants  of  the  north  of  that 
country  to  Assyria.  (2  Kings  xv.  29.)  Salmanaser,  or  Sal- 
mon, the  successor  of  Tiglath-Pileser,  took  Samaria,  cast 
Hoshea  into  prison  for  life,  and  transplanted  the  remnant 
of  Israel  to  Halah,  Habor,  and  other  Assyrian  and  Median 
cities.  (2  Kings  xvii.  I.)  Thus  ended  the  kingdom  pf 
Israel,  which  had  continued  254  years. 

Sennacherib,  the  monarch  who  succeeded,  attempted  the 
subjugation  of  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  but  was  disappointed 
by  the  miraculous  destruction  of  his  vast  army  in  a  single 
niglit.  (2  Kings  xviii.  13 — 37,  Isa.  xxxvi.  xxxvii.)  After 
a  reign  of  eighteen  years,  Sennacherib  was  assassinated  by 
two  of  his  sons  ;  the  third  son,  Esarhaddon,  hitherto  vice- 
roy of  Babylon,  succeeded  to  the  throne.  (2  Kings  xix.  37, 
Isa.  xxxvii*  38.)     Of  this  king  we  read  scarcely  any  thing 


MESOPOTAMIA.  27 

except  that  he  sent  colonists  to  Samaria.  (Ezra  iv.  2.)  He 
reigned  over  both  Assyria  and  Babylonia,  and  is  by  some 
supposed  to  be  the  king  of  Assyria  who  took  Manasseh  pri- 
soner, and  subdued  Judea.  About  120  years  after  Esar- 
haddon,  Cyaxares,  king  of  Media,  and  Nabopolassar,  the 
viceroy  of  Babylon,  united  their  forces  against  Assyria, 
destroyed  Nineveh,  and  divided  the  kingdom ;  so  that  As- 
syria itself  became  a  Median  province. 


SVZESOPOTAIMEXA. 

The  extensive  country  which  lies  between  the  Euphrates 
and  the  Tigris,  from  their  sources  to  Babylon,  between  the 
33d  and  38th  degrees  of  N.  latitude,  is  called  Mesopotamia. 
The  name  signifies,  in  Greek,  between  the  rivers.  In  He- 
brew it  is  called  Aram-Naharaim,  i.  e.  Aram  or  Syria  of  two 
rivers,  and  Padan-Aram,  the  plain  of  Syria.  The  modern 
Arabic  name  is  Algesira  or  El-jesira,  the  island,  or  peninsula. 

On  the  west  lie  Armenia,  Asia  Minor,  and  Syria ;  on  the 
south  the  Arabian  desert  and  Babylonia,  (or  Arabian  Irak  ;) 
on  the  east  Kurdistan ;   and  on  the  north  Greater  Armenia. 

In  addition  to  the  Euphrates  and  Tigris,  which  have 
been  already  mentioned,  there  is  no  account  given  in  the 
Bible  of  any  other  river  of  Mesopotamia  except  the  Chabo- 
ras,  or  Chebar,  on  the  banks  of  which  a  Jewish  colony 
was  planted  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  (Ezek.  i.  1,  3,  iii.  15,  23, 
X.  15,  22,  2  Kings  xxiv.  15,)  and  where  likewise  the  pro- 
phet Ezekiel  sojourned.  This  was  a  large  and  navigable 
river,  different  from  the  Chabor.  It  fell  into  the  Euphrates : 
now  El-Khabur. 

Towards  the  north  Mesopotamia  is  separated  from  Ar- 
menia by  the  southern  branch  of  mount  Taurus.  This 
range  was  by  the  Hebrews  called  Mash,  (Gen.  x.  23,)  and 
by  the  modern  Arabs,  Judi. 

The  north-eastern  district  of  Mesopotamia,  through  which 
the  Mygdonius  flowed,  was  anciently  called  Mygdonia.  Its 
chief  town  was  Nisibis,  and  bears  the  same  name  at  this 
time.  It  is  proper  to  mention  this  place,  as  some  have  sup- 
posed, but  without  foundation,  that  it  is  the  same  with  the 
Zobah  of  the  Bible,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  47,  2  Sam.  viii.  3,)  which 
was  a  town  of  Ccele-Syria. 


26  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


PLACES  IN  MESOPOTAMIA,  MENTIONED  IN  THE  BIBLE. 

I.  Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  the  birth-place  of  Abram,  (Gen. 
xi.  27,  28,)  In  the  fourth  century  it  was  the  theatre  of  a  war 
between  the  Roman  emperor  Julian  and  the  Persians.  It 
cannot  be  denied,  however,  that  there  is  a  place  in  Chal- 
dea  Proper,  which  the  eastern  Jews  still  call  Ur  of  the 
Chaldees,  as  Mr.  Wolff,  the  missionary,  informs  us,  and 
which  is  generally  known  by  the  name  of  Or/a;  the  latter 
is  the  ancient  Edessa. 

II.  Haran.  Here  Terah  stopped  on  his  journey,  (Gen. 
xi.  27,  28.)  and  died.  The  name  of  this  place  remains  un- 
altered. Lat.  36°  52'  N.  long.  39°  5'  E.  of  Greenwich.  It 
is  in  the  north-east  part  of  Mesopotamia.  The  country  is 
barren  and  uninviting.  The  Assyrian  king,  Sennacherib, 
destroyed  this  town,  (2  Kings  xix.  12,  Isa.  xxxvii.  12,) 
and  in  the  time  of  Ezekiel  it  carried  on  trade  with  Tyre. 
(Ezek.  xxviii.  23.)  This  place  is  in  the  New  Testament, 
(Acts  vii.  4,)  called  Charran. 

III.  Tel-ahih,  a  place  upon  the  river  Chebar,  where 
some  of  the  Jewish  exiles  lived,  and  whither  Ezekiel  went. 
(Ezek.  iii.  15.)  Probably  this  stood  upon  the  ground  occu- 
pied by  the  modern  Thalaba. 

IV.  Carchemish,  was  upon  the  Euphrates.  It  was  taken 
by  Pharaoh  Necho,  and  then  by  Nebuchadnezzar.  (2  Kings, 
xxiii.  29,  Jer.  xlvi.  2,  2  Chron.  xxxv.  20,  Josephus  Antiq. 
B.  X.  c.  6.)  It  was  called  by  the  Romans,  Circesium,  and 
is  now  known  as  Kirkisia.  It  stood  at  the  spot  where  the 
Chebar  falls  into  the  Euphrates. 

V.  Hena,  (See  2  Kings  xix.  12,  Isa.  xxxvii.  12,  as 
above,)  is  thought  to  be  the  same  with  the  modern  Anah, 
which  lies  upon  both  sides  of  the  Euphrates,  and  abounds 
with  fruit. 

VI.  Sepharvaim,  was  one  of  the  places  whence  Shalma- 
neser  sent  colonies  into  the  land  of  Israel.  (2  Kings.xvii.  24, 
xviii.  34,  Isa.  xxxvi.  19.)  It  would  appear  (2  Kings  xix. 
13,  Isa.  xxxvii.  13,)  that  it  was  a  small  kingdom.  It  is 
thought  to  be  the  same  with  Siphara. 


ASIA  MINOR.  29 

VII.  Thelasar,  lay,  as  we  conjecture,  in  th€  same  region, 
although  we  are  entirely  ignorant  of  its  exact  position.  (2 
Kings  xix.  12,  Isa.  xxxvii.  12.)  It  has  been  thought  that 
this  was  the  same  with  Ellasar,  (Gen.  xiv.  1.) 

In  very  early  times  we  read  of  Chushan-rishathaim, 
(Judg.  iii.  8,)  king  of  Mesopotamia,  but  hear  little  after- 
wards of  the  history  of  this  country  until  we  find  it  a  part 
of  the  Assyrian,  Persian,  and  Macedonian  empires. 

ASIA  2MEZNOR. 

The  name  of  Asia  Minor  is  given  to  that  large  peninsula 
which  stretches  out  into  the  Mediterranean,  at  the  west  of 
Asia,  it  is  included  between  -36°  and  42°  N.  lat.  and  26° 
and  39°  E.  long,  from  Greenwich.  It  extends  on  the  east 
to  the  Euphrates,  north  to  the  Black  or  Euxine  Sea,  west 
to  the  Sea  of  Marmora,  the  Hellespont,  and  the  Dardanelles, 
and  south  to  the  Mediterranean.  When  mentioned  in  the 
New  Testament  it  is  simply  called  Asia,  (Acts  xix,  26,  27,) 
yet  this  name  is  generally  given  to  a  small  portion  of  the 
peninsula,  comprehending,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  Lydia  in 
its  largest  sense,  including  Ionia  and  ^olis.  (Wells.)  (Acts 
xvi.  6,  ii.  9,  vi.  9,  xix.  10,  22,  xx.  16,  xxi.  27,  xxiv.  19, 
1  Cor.  xvi.  19,  2  Cor.  i.  8,  1  Pet.  i.  1,  Rev.  i.  4,  11.)  The 
name  of  this  country  is  now  Anadoli,  or  Natalia,  from  the 
Greek,  meaning  the  rising  of  the  sun.  The  French  and 
Italians  call  it  the  Levant,  which  has  the  same  meaning. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  mountainous.  Mount  Taurus, 
which  is  one  of  the  principal  ranges  of  Asia,  begins  in  the 
region  adjacent  to  the  -^gaean  sea,  and  presents  to  view  a 
a  chain  of  snow-clad  mountains  which  stretch  in  a  curve 
through  the  whole  land.  Between  these  and  a  more  north- 
ern chain,  there  are  numerous  valleys,  which,  though  na- 
turally fertile,  are  mostly  unproductive  at  this  day. 

The  chief  river  of  Asia  Minor  is  the  ancient  Halys,  now 
called  Kisil-Irmak,  which  rises  in  the  S.  E.  part,  takes  a 
course  first  eastward  and  then  northward,  and  passing 
through  a  part  of  Cappadocia,  Galatia  and  Pontus,  falls 
into  the  Black  sea  near  Basira. 

The  Iris,  (now  Jekil-Irmak,)  rises  near  Kara-Hissar  and 
c  2 


30 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


falls  into  the  Black  sea,  near  Samsun.     The  Pyramus  (now 
Dscheihan,)  flows  to  the  Mediterranean. 

The  climate  is  moderate,  on  account  of  the  sea-hreezes 
which  refresh  the  land  upon  three  sides.  During  the 
greatest  prevalence  of  heat,  the  mountains  afford  a  salutary 
resort.  The  soil  varies  in  different  parts ;  but  although 
there  are  many  fertile  vales,  not  half  the  arable  land  is  un- 
der cultivation.  The  productions  of  the  earth  are  wheat, 
rice,  tobacco,  saffron,  olives,  and  cotton. 

DIVISIONS  OF  ASIA  MINOR. 

By  the  ancients,  Asia  Minor  was  divided  into  twelve 
principal  countries,  some  of  which  were  separate  kingdoms. 
Three  of  these  were  northern,  bordering  on  the  Black  Sea, 
Yiz.  Pontus,  Paphlagoma,3,ndBithynia;  three  western,  upon 
the  Egaean  sea,  viz.  Mysia  (including  Troas,)  Lydia,  (with 
a  part  of  .^olis  and  Ionia,)  and  Caria,  (which  took  in  Do- 
ris and  the  remainder  of  Ionia;)  three  southern,  viz.  Lycia, 
Pisidia,  (with  Pamphylia)  and  Cilicia;  three  in  the  in- 
terior, viz.  Phrygia  (with  Lycaonia,)  Galatia,  and  Cappa- 
docia  (with  the  smaller  Armenia.) 

Most  of  these  are  mentioned  in  the  New  Testament,  as 
Asia  Minor  was  the  principal  field  of  labour  of  the  Apostles 
Peter  and  Paul. 

I.  Pontus,  lies  in  the  north-east,  upon  the  Black  Sea^ 
and  reaches  from  the  river  Halys  as  far  east  as  Colchis.  It  is 
bounded  west  by  Paphlagonia,  and  south  by  Cappadocia. 
The  descendants  of  Tubal  are  supposed  to  have  been  its 
earliest  inhabitants.  Pontus  and  Cappadocia  formed  one 
province  under  the  Romans.  There  were  Jews  residing 
in  Pontus  during  the  time  of  Christ.  (Acts  ii.  9.)  The 
gospel  was  preached  there  at  an  early  date.  The  apostle 
Peter  directs  his  first  epistle  to  them,  among  others.  (1  Pet. 
ii  1.)  This  was  the  birth-place  of  Aquila,  (Acts  xviii.  2J, 
3,  18,  26,  Rom.  xvi.  3,  1  Cor.  xvi.  19,  2  Tim.  iv.  19,) 
who  was  the  companion  of  Paul. 

Among  the  principal  towns  were  Amasia,  Themiscyra, 
the  residence  of  the  Amazons,  Cerasus,  whence  cherries 
were  first  brought  to  Europe,  and  derived  their  name,  (ce~ 
rasa,  Latin  ;  cerises,  French)  Trapezus,  now  Trebizonde  ; 
these  are  not  recorded  in  the  Scriptures.     In  the  Apocry- 


ASIA  MINOR.  31 

pha  Sampsameis  mentioned  ;  (IMac.  xv.  23;)  probably  the 
modern  Samsun,  a  trading  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  Iris, 
of  700  families. 

II.  Paphlagonia,  was  divided  by  the  Halys  from  Pontns, 
and  on  the  west  by  the  river  Parthenius  (now  Bartin)  from 
Bithynia.  On  the  north  bounded  by  the  Black  sea,  on  the 
south  by  Galatia.  The  eastern  part  has  lofty  mountains ; 
the  western  is  a  well-watered  plain.  The  chief  town  was 
Sinope,  upon  a  river  of  the  same  name  (now  Sinob)  which 
falls  into  the  Black  sea.  This  was  the  birth-place  of  Dio- 
genes the  Cynic. 

III.  Bithynia  was  separated  from  Paphlagonia,  on  the 
east  by  the  river  Parthenius  ;  on  the  west  were  the  sea  of 
Marmora,  and  the  river  Rhyndacus  (now  Mehullidsch ;)  on 
the  north  the  Black  sea,  and  on  the  south  Phrygia  and  Galatia. 
The  river  Sangarius  (now  Sacari)  falls  into  the  Black  sea. 
Olympus  is  the  principal  mountain.  Among  its  cities,  two 
are  worthy  of  notice  ;  Nice  which  was  formerly  called  An- 
tigonia,  and  now  Isnik,  at  which  was  held,  A.  D.  3'25,  the 
first  general  council,  at  which  Arianism  was  condemned : 
and  Chalcedon,  now  called  Kadikjoi,  where  was  held,  A.  D. 
451,  the  fourth  general  council,  at  which  the  Eutychians 
were  condemned.*  The  apostle  Paul  was  prevented  from 
visiting  Bithynia.  (Acts  xvi.  7.) 

IV.  Mysia  was  bounded  north  by  the  Propontis,  or  sea  f 
Marmora ;  west  by  the  Hellespont ;  south  by  jEolis ;  and  se- 
parated from  Bithynia  on  the  west  by  Aesepus  or  Aesapus, 
now  called  Spiga.  If  we  take  in  JEoIis,  as  was  done  in 
later  times,  the  southern  boundary  will  be  the  river  Her- 
mus  (now  Sarabad,)  which  is  the  northern  limit  of  Lydia. 
Mysia  is  even  now  a  beautiful  and  fertile  country.  In  the 
northern  part  was  Troas,  or  the  region  of  ancient  Troy, 
Not  far  from  the  site  of  this  was  Troas,  (now  Eski-Stam- 
but)  which  was  twice  visited  by  the  apostle  Paul,  (Acts  xvi. 
8,  XX.  6,)  and  is  mentioned  in  his  epistles  (2  Cor.  ii.  12, 
2Tim.  iv.  13.) 

*  The  Arians  were  followers  of  Anus,  who  denied  the  proper  divinity 
of  Christ,  and  considered  him  an  exalted  being  created  before  all  worlds,  and 
by  whose  instrumentality  the  worlds  were  made.  The  Eutychians  were 
also  ancient  heretics,  who  denied  that  there  was  any  distinction  of  natures 
in  Christ, 


32  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Assos  (Atts  XX.  13,  14,)  was  opposite  to  the  island  ofpS;-^ 
Lesbos;  it  is  now  a  miserable  hamlet,  called  Beiram.  '^' 

Pergamos,  is  memorable  as  the  place  where  one  of  the 
seven  churches  mentioned  in  the  Apocalypse,  existed. 
(Rev.  i.  11.)  Its  modern  name  is  Bergamo.  This  town 
was  built  upon  the  northern  bank  of  the  Caicus.  The 
heresy  of  the  Nicolaitanes  corrupted  the  church  of  Perga- 
mos,  for  which  it  was  reproved.  (Rev.  ii.  14 — 16.)  It  has 
at  present  about  30,000  inhabitants,  including  3,000  Greek 
Christians.     It  is  about  60  miles  north  of  Smyrna. 

V.  Lydia  was  bounded  east  by  Greater  Phrygia  ;  north 
by  jEolis  or  Mysia ;  west  by  Ionia  and  the  jEgean  sea,  and 
on  the  south  by  the  river  Meander,  which  divided  it  from 
Caria.  The  country  is  generally  level.  The  Tmolus  was  its 
principal  mountain,  and  the  Pactolus  and  Cayster  its  chief 
rivers.  The  Pactolus  was  celebrated  for  its  golden  sands. 
Some  have  supposed  that  the  descendants  of  Lud  (Gen.  x. 
22,)  peopled  Lydia  ;  but  there  is  a  people  called  Lud  who 
lived  in  Africa.  (Gen.  x.  13,  Isa.  Ixvi.  19,  Jer.  xlvi.  9, 
Ezek.  xxvii.  10,   xxx.  5.) 

The  New  Testament  mentions  three  Lydian  cities,  Thy- 
atira,  Sardis,  and  Philadelphia. 

Thyatira,  the  most  northern  of  these,  was  upon  the  river 
Lycus,  between  Pergamos  and  Sardis.  It  was  the  birth- 
place of  the  pious  Lydia,  (Acts  xvi.  14,  15,  40,)  and  con- 
tained one  of  the  seven  churches  of  Asia;  (Rev.  i.  11;)  it 
still  exists  under  the  name  of  Ak-hisar,  and  contains  a  num- 
ber of  nominal  Christians.   (Rev.  ii.  18 — 29.) 

Sardis  was  the  chief  city  of  Lydia,  and  until  the  time  of 
Croesus,  who  was  conquered  by  Cyrus,  the  centre  of  the 
Lydian  monarchy.  It  lies  on  the  bank  of  the  Pactolus, 
near  mount  Tmolus.  Here  also  was  one  of  the  seven 
churches;  (Rev.  i.  11,  iii.  1 — 6;)  a  wretched  village  call- 
ed Sart  still  remains.  We  are  informed  that  "  a  few  names" 
are  found  even  in  Sardis,  who  received  with  gratitude  the 
New  Testament  in  modern  Greek. 

Philadelphia,  the  seat  of  one  of  the  seven  churches  of 
Asia,  about  70  miles  S.  E.  -from  Smyrna,  and  25  from  Sar- 
dis. It  was  situated  upon  a  branch  of  Mount  Tmolus. 
In  this  place  was  one  of  the  seven  churches,  to  whom  the 
Saviour  directed  his  message  by  John.  Here  are  to  be 
seen  the  relics  of  a  noble  city,  and  it  is  still  called  by  the 


^  ASIA  MINOR.  do 

Turks,  Alah-sher,  '  the  beautiful  city.'  About  a  thousand 
^  Christians  reside  here.  (See  Rev.  i.  11.  iii.  1 — 14.) 
"Among  the  Greek  colonies  and  churches  of  Asia,"  says 
Gibbon,  "Philadelphia  is  still  erect — a  column  in  a  scene 
of  ruins." 

VI.  Ionia  was  considered  by  the  ancients  as  the  garden 
of  Asia.  It  was  bounded  east  by  Lydia ;  north  by  Mysia ; 
west  by  the  ^gean  sea ;  and  south  by  Caria.  Its  chief 
cities  were  Miletus,  Phocea,  Ephesus,  and  Smyrna. 

Smyrna  is  the  most  northern,  and  is  called  by  the  Turks 
Ismir.  It  is  situated  upon  a  bay  formed  by  the  little  river 
Melos.  In  all  Asia  there  was  no  city  more  beautiful.  Al- 
though frequently  destroyed  by  earthquakes,  it  contains 
even  now  as  many  as  120,000  inhabitants,  and  carries  on 
an  important  trade  with  Europe  and  America,  being  the 
principal  commercial  town  in  the  Levant.  The  Greeks 
have  here  a  bishop  and  two  churches. 

The  church  of  Smyrna  enjoyed  the  labours  of  the  mar- 
tyr Polycarp,  and  was  commended  by  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  (Rev.  i.  11,  ii.  8 — 11.)  There  is  no  city  of  Asia 
Minor  in  which  the  Christians  are  in  a  better  condition. 

Ephesus,  was,  under  the  Romans,  the  capital  of  procon- 
sular Asia,  and  stood  about  five  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
the  river  Cayster,  and  45  S.  of  Smyrna.  Here  was  the 
temple  of  Diana  which  became  the  wonder  of  the  world 
and  of  posterity.  Its  length  was  425  feet,  its  breadth  220, 
and  it  was  supported  by  127  columns  60  feet  high.  On 
the  night  of  Alexander's  birth  it  was  set  on  fire  by  one 
Herostratus,  but  was  rebuilt  with  still  more  splendour  than 
before.  In  this  edifice  was  the  wooden  statue  of  Diana, 
which  the  Ephesians  supposed  had  fallen  from  heaven. 
(Acts  xix.  35.)  Little  models  of  this  temple  were  made  of 
silver,  and  sold  to  the  devotees,  (xix.  24.)  Christianity  was 
here  introduced  by  the  apostle  Paul,  about  A.D.  54.  (Acts 
xviii.  19,  xix.  8.)  It  was  visited  also  by  Apollos,  (Acts 
xviii.  24,)  and  was  the  place  where  Onesiphorus  showed 
kindness  to  Paul.  (2  Tim.  i.  18.)  The  church  here  was 
addressed  in  an  epistle  by  this  apostle,  and  afterwards  by 
our  Lord  himself.  (Rev.  i.  11,  ii.  1—7.)  A  poor  Turkish 
village  is  all  that  remains  of  the  splendid  Ephesus. 

Trogylliunij  a  town  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Mycale,  where 


34  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

the  apostle  Paul  tarried  for  a  night  on  his  journey  from 
Assos  to  Miletus.  (Acts  xx.  15.) 

Miletus,  in  the  southern  part  of  Ionia,  was  second  only 
to  Ephesus  in  splendour.  At  present  there  are  only  the 
ruins  of  certain  palaces  and  temples,  near  a  shepherds'  village 
called  Palat,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Meander.  Here  it  was 
that  Paul  gathered  the  elders  of  Ephesus,  and  bade  them 
farewell ;  (Acts  xx.  17  ;)  here  he  left  Trophimus  sick,  on 
one  of  his  journeys.  (2  Tim.  iv.  20.) 

VII.  Caria,  was  situated  at  the  S.  west  extremity  of  Asia 
Minor,  and  bounded  east  by  Lycia  and  Phrygia ;  north  by 
Lydia  and  Ionia ;  west  by  the  ^gean,  and  south  by  the 
Mediterranean  sea.  The  land  is  mountainous,  and  was 
early  settled  by  the  Phcenicians. 

Cnidus  was  a  city  on  the  point  of  a  peninsula,  and  was 
passed  by  the  apostle  Paul,  (Acts  xxvii.  7,)  on  his  first 
voyage,  as  a  prisoner,  to  Rome. 

VIII.  Lycia  was  bounded  on  the  west  by  Caria ;  south  by 
the  Mediterranean  and  Syrian  sea;  east  by  Pamphylia;  and 
north  by  Phrygia.  The  country  is  very  mountainous,  and 
the  Taurus  here  has  its  south-western  commencement. 
Among  the  many  cities  of  this  province,  only  two  are  no- 
ticed in  the  Bible:  viz.  Patara  and  Myra. 

Patara  was  a  large  and  rich  sea-port  town.  It  was  call- 
ed Arsinoe  by  Ptolemy  Philadelphus,  in  honour  of  his 
queen.  Here  the  apostle  Paul  once  embarked  for  Phoenicia, 
on  his  way  to  Jerusalem.  (Acts  xxi.  1,  2.)  Near  the  ruins 
of  Patara  stands  an  ordinary  village,  called  Scamandro. 

Myra  was  one  of  the  six  great  cities  of  Lycia,  and  a  sea- 
port. Here  also  Paul  touched,  (Acts  xxvii.  5,)  on  his 
voyage  to  Rome,  and  took  ship  for  Italy. 

IX.  Pamphylia  was  east  of  Lycia,  bounded  south  by  the 
Mediterranean ;  north  by  Pisida;  and  east  by  Cilicia.  The 
country  is  hilly,  and  is  watered  by  the  river  Eurymedon 
(now  »S'^  Nicholas.) 

^Attalia  was  a  city  visited  by  the  apostle  Paul  (Acts  xiv. 
25,)  in  his  travels  through  Asia  Minor.  It  is  upon  the  sea, 
at  the  place  where  the  river  Cataractes  falls  from  a  height 
into  the  sea.  At  the  present  day  it  is  known  by  the  names 
Attalia,  Antalia,  and  Satalia, 


ASIA  MINOR.  35 

Perga  was  once  the  capital  of  the  province,  and  stood 
near  the  sea  upon  the  river  Cestrus.  Paul  was  twice  in 
this  city.  (Acts  xiii.  13,  14,  xiv.  25.)  It  is  supposed  to  be 
the  same  with  Kirahisar,  in  a  district  called  Tekieh. 

X.  Pisidia,  was  chiefly  among  the  mountains  of  Taurus, 
north  of  Pamphylia.  There  was  an  Antioch  in  Pisidia 
which  must  be  carefully  distinguished  from  the  Syrian  An- 
tioch, as  well  as  other  cities  of  the  same  name.  In  a  syna- 
gogue of  this  city  Paul  preached  a  memorable  discourse, 
(Acts  xiii.  14 — 41,)  and  was  expelled  by  the  people,  (ver. 
50,  2  Tim.  iii.  11.)  An  insignificant  town,  called  Ak- 
Shehr,  occupies  the  ancient  site. 

XI.  Cilicia  stretches  along  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean 
from  the  river  Melas,  which  divides  it  from  Pamphylia, 
towards  Syria,  where  it  is  bounded  by  the  mountain  Ama- 
nus.     Taurus  is  its  northern  limit. 

Tarsus,  the  birth-place  of  the  apostle  Paul,  and  the  chief 
city  of  Cilicia,  was  situated  in  a  fertile  plain  upon  the  river 
Cydnus,  (now  Kara-Su.)  (Acts  xxi.  39.)  Although  sub- 
ject, in  the  apostle's  time,  to  the  Roman  sway,  it  was  a 
free  city ;  that  is,  it  had  its  own  municipal  government,  and 
its  own  laws.  From  this  privilege,  or  possibly  in  conse- 
quence of  some  honour  conferred  on  his  immediate  ances- 
try, Paul  was  a  Roman  citizen.  (Acts  xvi.  37,  xxii.  29.) 
It  is  now  a  poor,  dilapidated  town,  belonging  to  Cyprus. 

XII.  Cappadocia  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  Armenia ; 
north  by  Potus ;  west  by  Lycaonia ;  and  south  by  Cilicia. 
It  is  a  hilly  but  fertile  tract  of  country.  Christianity  was 
introduced  into  Cappadocia  at  a  very  early  period.  The 
Christians  of  this  province  are  mentioned  by  the  apostle 
Peter  in  his  first  epistle,  (i.  1.)  Some  of  these  had  probably 
been  converted  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.   (Acts  ii.  9.) 

XIII.  Lt/coonia  was  bounded  east  by  Cappadocia  ;  north 
by  Galatia  ;  west  by  Phrygia  ;  south  by  Iscauria  and  Cili- 
cia. It  is  uncertain  whether  the  dialect  of  Lyconia  (Acts 
xiv.  11,)  was  the  old  Assyrian  language,  or  a  corruption  of 
the  Greek. 

Iconium  was  the  principal  city,  and  was  situated  at  the 
foot  of  mount  Taurus.     Its  present  name  is  Conia,  and  it 


36  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

is  the  seat  of  a  Pacha.  Here  the  gospel  was  preached  byPaul 
and  Barnabas,  (Acts  xiii.  51,  xiv.l,)  and  with  great  success, 
and  although  they  were  speedily  forced  to  leave  the  place 
(ver.  6.)  and  proceed  to  Lystra  and  Derbe.  The  latter  was 
east  of  Iconium,  at  the  foot  of  the  range  of  mountains  call- 
ed Anti-Taurus,  and  was  the  birth-place  of  Gaius,  the  fellow- 
traveller  of  Paul.  (Acts  XX.  4.)  Lystra  was  south  of  Ico- 
nium, and  is  signalized  by  a  miracle  of  the  apostle,  (Acts 
xiv.  8 — 19,)  and  as  being  the  birth-place  of  Timothy,  the 
coadjutor  of  Paul.  (Acts  xvi.  1,  2,  2  Tim.  iii.  11.) 

XIV.  Phrygia  was  bounded  east  by  Cappadocia ;  north 
by  Galatia  and  Bithynia ;  west  by  Mysia,  Lydia  and  Ca- 
ria ;  and  south  by  Lydia  and  Pisidia.  The  land  is  fertile 
and  generally  level.  Several  large  rivers  flow  through  it, 
as  the  Meander  and  the  Marsyas,  which  after  their  junction 
fall  into  the  iEgean  sea,  and  the  Hermus,  (now  the  Sarabad.) 
In  the  New  Testament  we  find  three  cities  of  Phrygia, 
which  were  all  in  the  same  region,  viz.  Colosse,  Laodicea, 
and  Hierapolis. 

Colosse,  or  perhaps  more  properly  Colasse,  was  a  city 
on  the  river  Lycus,  (now  the  Gorduk.)  Upon  the  same 
spot  are  a  castle  and  village  called  Chonos.  About  A.  D. 
65  Colosse  was  overwhelmed  by  an  earthquake.  Before 
this,  however,  a  Christian  church  had  been  established 
here,  of  which  Epaphras  was  the  pastor.  (Col.  i.  7,  iv. 
12,  13.)  An  epistle  directed  to  this  church  is  still  extant 
among  the  books  of  the  New  Testament.  The  apostle 
Paul  had  twice  visited  the  northern  part  of  Phrygia;  but  it 
does  not  appear  that  he  had  ever  been  at  Colosse.  (Acts 
xvii.  6,  xviii.  23,  Col.  ii.  1.) 

Laodicea^  upon  the  river  Lycas,  was  the  chief  city  of  the 
province  called  Phrygia,  Pacatiana,  (1  Tim.  vi.  22,)  and 
a  place  of  trade,  much  visited  by  Jews.  The  Turkish 
name  is  Eski-hissar,  and  the  town  lay  upon  the  confines  of 
Phrygia  and  Lydia  about  40  miles  east  of  Ephesus.  Let 
this  be  distinguished  from  Laodicea  combusta,  which  was 
in  the  eastern  part  of  Phrygia,  and  also  from  Laodicea  ad 
Mare*  which  occupied  the  ground  of  the  present  port  of 
Aleppo,  and  from  Laodicea  ad  Libanum,  which  was  near 

*  This,  and  not  the  Laodicea  of  the  Apocalypse  was  the  place  de- 
stroyed by  the  earthquake  of  1822. — See  Mansford's  Scripture  Ga- 
zetteer, p.  314.  London  1829. 


SYRIA,   OR  ARAM.  37 

mount  Lebanon  in  Syria.  There  was  a  church  here,  when 
Paul  wrote  to  the  Colossians,  (ch.  iv.  16.)  and  to  this 
church  were  directed  the  warnings  recorded  in  the  Apoca- 
lypse. (Rev.  i.  11,  iii.  14—22.) 

Hierapolis  (now  Pambuk-Kulassi)  was  south  of  Laodicea, 
and  though  remarkable  for  its  hot  baths  and  its  ancient 
splendour,  is  mentioned  but  once  in  the  Bible ;  (Col.  iv. 
13  ;)  it  was  five  miles  from  the  city  last  mentioned. 

XV.  Galatia  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Paphlago- 
nia ;  west  by  Bithynia  and  a  part  of  Phrygia ;  south  by 
Phrygia  and  Cappadocia;  and  east  by  Cappadocia  and 
Pontus.  The  inhabitants  were  Celts,  or  Gauls,  who  settled 
here  some  centuries  before  Christ.  The  Galatians  were  a 
warlike  people,  and  often  served  in  foreign  wars. 

Ancyra,  (now  Angura  or  Enguri,)  was  the  chief  city. 
Christianity  was  introduced  into  Galatia  by  the  apostle 
Paul,  (Gal.  i.  6,  8,  iv.  13,)  who  visited  the  country  twice. 
The  first  of  these  visits  was  in  company  with  Silas  and 
Timothy,  (Acts  xvi.  6,)  about  the  year  53,  as  is  supposed  ; 
the  other,  four  years  later,  on  his  return  from  Corinth. 
(Acts  xviii.  23.)  One  of  his  companions  in  labour,  by  name 
Crescens,  (2  Tim.  iv.  10,)  appears  to  have  preached  in 
Galatia. 

SYRIA,    OR    ARAM.    -  ' 

Syria,  called  Aram  in  the  earlier  Scripture  writings, 
from  Aram,  the  son  of  Shem  ;  an  extensive  empire  of  the 
East,  including,  in  its  largest  sense,  all  the  country  between 
the  Mediterranean  sea  and  the  river  Cydnus  on  the  west ; 
the  Euphrates  on  the  east ;  and  from  mount  Taurus  on 
the  north,  to  the  confines  of  Egypt  and  Arabia,,  on  the 
south.  It  has  usually  been  divided,  for  description's  sake, 
into  Upper  Syria,  or  Syria  Proper  ;  (which  was  that  so  de- 
nominated, before  it  was  conquered  and  incorporated  with 
Assyria;)  Ccele-Syria,  or  Hollow  Syria,  so  called  from  its 
situation  between  the  two  great  ridges  of  Libanus  and 
Anti-Libanus  :  and  Syria  Palestina,  which  included  the 
Holy  Land,  and  that  maritime  border  on  its  north-western 
side  which  the  Greeks  called  Phoenicia."  (Mansford.) 
D 


38  OEOORAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


MOUNT  LEBANON. 


The  greatest  and  most  famous  range  of  mountains  in  Sy- 
ria is  Lebanon,  an  extensive  and  lofty  chain,  which  stretches 
from  the  sea-shore  in  two  parallel  branches  from  south- 
west to  north-east.  The  more  southern  of  these  is  Anti- 
Libanus,  or  that  which  is  over  against  Lebanon  Proper. 
An  eastern  branch  of  this  is  called  by  Moses  Herman, 
(Deut.  iii.  9,)  and  also  Sion.  (Deut.  iv.  48.)  In  the  former 
of  these  texts  we  are  told  that  the  Sidonians  called  it  Sirion, 
and  the  Amorites  Shenir.  Both  these  names  mean  "  a  coat 
of  mail."  In  the  later  books  of  the  Old  Testament  they 
are  distinguished  from  one  another.  (1  Chron.  v.  23,  Song 
Sol.  iv.  8.)  Amana  was  probably  a  peak  of  the  same  moun- 
tain. Between  Libanus  or  Lebanon  and  Anti-Libanus,  is 
included,  as  is  stated  above.  Code- Syria.  Lebanon  was  so 
called  from  its  whiteness,  not  only  because  of  its  eternal 
snows,  but  from  the  hue  of  its  limestone  rocks.  From  these 
rocks  flowed  the  purest  water,  (Song  Sol.  iv.  15,)  and  above 
them  the  mountain  summits  were  covered  with  snow. 
Hence  we  may  discern  the  beauty,  and  propriety  of  the 
comparison,  (Jer.  xviii.  14,)  Will  a  man  leave  the  snow  of 
Lebanon  which  cometh  from  the  rock  of  the  field  7  or  shall 
the  cold  flowing  waters  that  come  from  another  place  be  for- 
saken ? 

The  lower  parts  of  the  mountain  are  as  delightful  as  the 
heights  are  terrible.  To  enjoy  the  pure  air  and  charm- 
ing prospects  of  these,  Solomon  erected  buildings  there. 
(1  Kings  ix.  19.)  The  wine  of  these  tracts  is  celebrated. 
(Hos.  xiv.  7.) 

The  Cedars  of  Lebanon  have  become  proverbial,  and  ex- 
cel those  of  all  other  lands.  Besides  their  uncommon  size 
and  beauty  of  shape  and  foliage,  they  send  forth  a  bal- 
samic odour,  which  seems  to  be  meant  by  "  the  smell  of 
Lebanon."  (Hos.  xiv.  6,  Song  Sol.  iv.  11.)  This  cedar 
was  abundant  in  ancient  times :  of  this  wood  were  built 
the  city  of  Persepolis,  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  and  the 
palace  of  Solomon ;  and  in  the  last  of  these  so  much  of 
this  material  was  used,  that  it  was  called,  (1  Kings  vii.  2,  x. 
17,)  the  house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon.  The  Tyrians  used 
it  in  ship-building.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  5,  6.) 

Mount  Hor  was  probably  a  north-eastern  branch  of  Le- 


SYRIA,  OR  ARAM.  99 

banon,  (Num.  xxxiv.  7,  8,)  and  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  land  of  Israel. 

RIVERS  OF  SYRIA. 

The  Oronfes  and  the  Eleutherus  are  the  most  distinguish- 
ed rivers  of  Syria;  but  we  pass  them  by,  as  they  are  not 
named  in  the  Bible. 

The  Abana  was  a  river  of  Damascus,  mentioned  (2  Kings 
V.  12,)  by  Naaman  the  Syrian.  It  is  generally  said  that  it 
was  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Chrysorroas,  (now  Baradi,) 
which  rises  in  Anti-Libanus,  and,  dividing  into  five 
streams,  waters  the  whole  country  around  Damascus,  so  as 
to  make  this  region,  in  the  midst  of  the  desert,  truly  fertile 
and  beautiful. 

The  Pharpar,  named  in  the  same  connexion,  is  proba- 
bly the  river  now  called  Fidsheh.  It  rises  north-west  of 
Damascus,  and  unites  its  clear  and  beautiful  waters  with 
those  of  the  Baradi. 

DIVISIONS  OF  SYRIA. 

Syria  Proper  embraces  that  country  which  lies  be- 
tween the  mountains  Amanus  and  Lebanon  on  the  north 
and  south  ;  and  between  the  Euphrates  and  the  Mediter- 
ranean on  the  east  and  west :  it  was  divided,  during  David's 
time,  into  several  small  kingdoms,  which  are  thus  named  in 
the  Scriptures. 

I.  Aram-Zoba.  It  should  be  remembered  that  Aram  is 
the  Hebrew  name  of  Syria.  This  portion  of  Syria  lay  upon 
the  Euphrates  ;  for  when  David  went  to  "  recover  his  bor- 
der" upon  this  river,  (2  Sam.  viii.  3,  1  Chron.  xviii.  3,) 
he  smote  Hadarezer,  king  of  Zobah.  After  this,  Hadare- 
zer  brought  as  allies  "  the  Syrians  that  were  beyond  the 
river ;"  (2  Sam.  x.  16;)  that  is,  Mesopotamians  from  the  east 
of  Euphrates.  Berothai,  (2  Sam.  viii.  8,)  is  probably  the 
modern  Beyroot;  and  if  so,  Aram-Zobah  extended  westward 
to  the  Mediterranean.  Zobah  is  often  mentioned,  (1  Sam. 
xiv.  47,  x.  6,  1  Kings  xi.  24,  25,)  and  is  placed,  with  much 
probability,  between  Damascus  and  Aleppo. 

II.  Aram-Dammesek,  (2  Sam.  viii.  5,  6,)  or  the  Syrians 
of  Damascus.     A  part  of  Damascene  Syria,  seems  to  be 


40 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


meant  by  the  land  of  Hadrach,  (Zech.  ix.  1,)  which  is  con- 
nected with  Damascus. 

III.  Aram-Maachah,  (1  Chron.  xix.  6,)  translated  Syria- 
Maachah,  and  sometimes  called  simply  Maachah,  (2  Sam. 
X.  6,  8,)  seems  to  have  been  situated  south  of  Damascus,  on 
the  east  of  the  Jordan,  and  north  of  the  Hebrew  coun- 
try; for  the  Reubenites  and  Gadites,  (Deut.  iii.  14.  Jos. 
xiii.  13,)  possessed  as  far  north  as  Maacha. 

IV.  Aram  Beth-rehob.  The  Syrians  of  Beth-rehob,  (2 
Sam.  X.  6,)  were  allies  of  the  Ammonites  against  David. 
It  lay  upon  the  northern  frontier  of  the  Israelites'  territory  ; 
for  Laish  which  was  taken  by  the  Danites,  (Judg.  xviii.  28,) 
was  near  to  Beth-rehob,  and  the  Asherites  are  said  (Judg.  i. 
31,)  not  to  have  driven  out  the  inhabitants  of  Rehob.  We 
may  therefore  consider  this  as  the  country  now  called  Ard-eU 
hhule,  at  the  foot  of  Anti-Libanus,  near  the  sources  of  the 
Jordan.  Hul  was  the  name  of  a  son  of  Aram.  (Gen.  x.  23.) 

V.  Hamath  was  a  province  upon  the  Orontes,  with  a  city 
of  the  same  name,  which  it  still  retains.  In  Genesis,  (x.  18,) 
the  Hamathites  are  named  among  the  descendants  of  Ca- 
naan ;  and  in  later  times  we  read  of  Hamath  as  the  northern 
limit  of  the  land  of  the  Hebrews.  (Num.  xiii.  21,  xxxiv.  8, 
Josh.  xiii.  5,  Judg.  iii.  3.)  In  David's  time  Toi  was  king  of 
Hamath.  (2  Sam.  viii.  9.) 

VI.  Arpad  is  always  joined  with  Hamath,  (2  Kings  xviii. 
34,  xix.  13,  Isa.  x.  9,  xxxvi.  19,  Jer.  xlix.  23,)  whence 
we  infer  that  it  was,  perhaps,  adjacent  to  the  latter  upon 
the  east. 

VII.  Hauran  is  named  by  Ezekiel,  (ch.  x.vii.  16,  18,)  as 
the  future  boundary  of  Israel  upon  the  north.  The  name  is 
retained  in  the  Greek  Auranitis  or  Oranitis,  and  the  coun- 
try reaches  from  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  on  the  east  of  the  Jor- 
dan, as  far  north  as  Damascus. 

VIII.  Geshur,  a  district  of  Syria,  bordered  upon  the 
north  of  the  Hebrew  territory,  (2  Sam.  xv.  8,  1  Chron.  ii. 
23,)  and  lay  between  Mount  Hermon,  Maachah,  and  Ba- 
shan.  (Deut.  iii.  13,  14,  Josh.  xii.  3,  4.)  The  Geshurites 


SYRIA,  OR  ARAM.  41 

and  Maachathites  were  not  expelled  by  the  Israelites  under 
Joshua;  (Josh.  xiii.  2,  13,^  and  in  David's  reign  Geshur 
had  its  own  king,  Talmai,  (2  Sam.  iii.  3,)  whose  daughter, 
Maachah,  was  the  mother  of  Absalom.  (2  Sam.  xiii.  37, 
XV.  8.)  The  name  Geshur  signifies  a  bridge ;  from  this 
comes  the  Arabic  Jisr  or  Jisser  ;  and  in  this  region,  where 
we  place  Geshur,  between  Mount  Hermon  and  the  sea  of 
Tiberias,  there  is  now  a  bridge  over  the  Upper  Jordan, 
called  Jisr  Beni-Jakub,  "  the  bridge  of  the  sons  of  Jacob." 

IX.  Abilene  was  governed,  about  the  time  of  Christ, 
(Luke  iii.  1,)  by  a  certain  Lysanias,  who  had  the  title  of 
Tetrach.  It  was  probably  adjacent  to  Galilee,  Ituria,  and 
Trachonitis  ;  being  north-west  of  Damascus,  and  south  of 
Heliopolis  or  Balbec.    Here  was  the  city  of  Abela. 

At  the  present  day,  under  the  Ottoman  power,  Syria  is 
divided  into  five  districts,  under  as  many  Pachas,  or  go- 
vernors ;  viz.  (1.)  The  Pachalic  of  Hhaleb  or  Aleppo, 
comprising  Aintab,  Badshasse,  Alexandrette,  and  Antakia. 
(2.)  The  Pachalic  of  Damascus,  including  Hebron,  Jerusa- 
lem, Nablus,  Bostra,  Hhoms,  and  Hhamah.  (3.)  The  Pa- 
chalic of  Tarablus  or  Tripoli,  to  which  is  subordinate  the 
country  on  the  coast,  from  Dschebail  (Byblus)  northward  to 
Latakia.  (4.)  The  Pachalic  Seida  or  Akka,  from  Dsche- 
bail southward  to  Jaffa,  including  the  mountain  of  the  Dru- 
ses.    (5.)  The  Pachalic  of  Gaza,  in  which  is  Jaffa, 

CITIES,  AND  REMARKABLE  PLACES  IN  SYRIA. 

We  shall  find  it  most  convenient,  in  enumerating  the 
places  of  Syria  which  are  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures,  to 
proceed  regularly  from  north  to  south. 

I.  Seleucia  was  a  sea-port  town,  built  by  Seleucus  Nica- 
tor,  the  first  Grecian  king  of  Syria,  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Orontes  or  Aasi.  Here  the  apostle  Paul  took  ship  for  Cy- 
prus. (Acts  xiii.  4.)  A  village  may  still  be  found  there,  in- 
habited chiefly  by  Armenians,  and  called  Kapse. 

II.  Antioch,  on  the  Orontes;  about  midway  between 
Constantinople  and  Alexandria,  in  35°  17'  north  latitude, 
and  36°  45'  east  longitude  from  Greenwich.     It  was  about 

d2 


4»  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

SO  miles  from  the  sea,  and  long  the  residence  of  the  Syrian 
kings.  The  apostle  Paul  and  Barnabas  preached  at  An- 
tioch,  and  here  the  disciples  were  first  called  Christians. 
(Acts  xi.  26,  xiii.  1,  xiv.  21,  xv.  22,  Gal.  ii.  11—21.) 
The  poor  remains  of  this  splendid  city  are  called  by  the 
Arabs,  Antakia.  A  few  Greeks  and  Armenians  reside  here. 

III.  Helbon  or  Aleppo,  called  likewise  Chalydon  and 
Hhaleh  was  one  of  the  most  ancient,  rich,  and  populous  of 
the  Syrian  cities.  Its  trade  with  Tyre  is  noticed  by  the 
prophet  Ezekiel,  (ch.  xxvii.  18.)  It  is  even  now  one  of 
the  most  agreeable  cities  of  Turkey,  and  contained  in  1815 
something  less  than  100,000  souls.  In  1822  it  was  almost 
entirely  destroyed  by  a  tremendous  earthquake. 

IV.  Rezeph,  was  mentioned  by  Rab-shakeh,  (2  Kings 
xix.  12,  Isa.  xxxvii.  12,)  among  the  cities  of  Mesopotamia 
and  Syria,  which  the  Assyrians  had  taken.  It  stood  about 
a  day's  journey  west  of  the  Euphrates,  where  the  modern 
Arsoffa  is  found. 

V.  Tiphsah  was  the  boundary  of  Solomon's  kingdom  to- 
wards the  north-east,  as  Gaza,  (or  Azzah,)  was  upon  the 
south-west.  (1  Kings  iv.  24.)  The  name  signifies  a  ford, 
and  it  was  probably  a  crossing-place  upon  the  Euphrates. 
It  is  supposed  to  be  a  different  place  jQ^om  the  Tiphsah, 
which  was  conquered  by  Menahem.  (2  Kings  xv.  16.) 

VI.  Rehohoth  by  the  river,  (Euphrates,)  which  is  named 
as  the  native  place  of  Saul,  king  of  Edom,  (Gen.  xxxvi. 
37,)  is  probably  the  same  as  to  situation  with  the  modern 
Errachahi,  an  Arabian  town  near  the  Euphrates. 

VII.  Hamath,  on  the  Orontes,  is  very  frequently  men- 
tioned in  the  Old  Testament.  This  was,  in  David's  time, 
the  capital  of  a  small  kingdom,  (see  p.  40  above,)  and  is 
called  Hamath  the  great  by  Amos,  (ch.  vi.  2.)  It  was  con- 
quered by  the  Assyrians  during  the  reign  of  Hezekiah. 
(2  Kings  xvii.  24,  xviii.  34,  xix.  13,  Isa.  x.  9,  xxxvi.  19.) 
The  name  in  later  times  was  £3pip/iawia,but  it  has  at  present 
resumed  its  old  name. 

VIII.  Riblah  was  one  of  the  places  through  which  the 
north-eastern  line  of  the  Hebrew  territory  passed.  (Num 


SYRIA,   OR  ARAM.  43 

xxxiv.  11.)  When  the  Chaldeans  conquered  Jerusalem, 
this  city  belonged  to  the  district  of  Hamath,  (-2  Kings  xxiii. 
33,  Jer.  xxxix.  5,  Hi.  10,)  and  was  the  place  of  the  con- 
queror's head-quarters.  Its  exact  situation  cannot  be  dis- 
covered. 

IX.  Tadmor  or  Thamar,  a  city  built  by  Solomon,  (1 
Kings  ix.  18.  2  Chron.  viii.  4,)  between  the  Euphrates 
and  Hamath,  and  south-east  of  the  latter.  The  Hebrew 
name  signifies  a  Palm-tree,  and  hence  the  Greeks  called 
it  Palmyra,  "the  city  of  palms."  It  was  about  160  miles 
from  the  Mediterranean.  The  ruins  still  existing  show 
that  it  was  one  of  the  most  glorious  of  ancient  cities.  At 
present  it  is  "a  forest  of  Corinthian  pillars,  erect  and 
fallen,"  in  the  midst  of  an  arid  desert.  It  is  200  miles 
south-east  of  Aleppo.    Lon.  38°  50'  E.  lat.  33°  20'  N. 

X.  Baal-gad  was  situated,  (Josh.  xi.  18,  xii.  7,)  in  the 
valley  of  Lebanon,  under  mount  Hermon,  and  was  among  the 
places  unconquered  by  the  Israelites  at  the  death  of  Joshua. 
(Josh.  xiii.  5.)  By  the  Greeks  it  was  called  Heliopol'is,  and 
by  the  modern  natives  Balbec,  both  of  which  mean  the  city 
of  the  sun.  It  was,  perhaps,  the  place  called  (Song  Sol. 
viii.)  Baal-hamon ;  and  also,  (1  Kings  ix.  18,)  Baalath.  It  is 
situated  at  the  foot  of  Anti-Lebanon,  just  w  here  the  moun- 
tain ends  in  a  plain,  and  presents  to  the  traveller  a  magnifi- 
cent spectacle  of  ruins,  among  which,  those  of  the  temple 
of  the  sun  are  most  conspicuous.  Balbec  is  37  miles  north 
of  Damascus.     Lon.  37°  -20'  E.  lat.  34°  22'  N. 

XI.  Damascus*  The  most  ancient  city  which  now  exists. 
The  Hebrews  called  it  Dammesek,  the  Arabs  Dimashk,  the 
Syrians  Darmsuk,  and  the  modern  inhabitants  El- Sham. 
By  the  Arabs  it  is  numbered  among  the  four  eastern  Para- 
dises. It  is  situated  upon  the  river  Baradi,  (the  ancient 
Chrysorroas,)  200  miles  from  Antioch.  Its  population  is  at 
least  100,000.  The  ancient  walls  are  in  ruins,  but  the  city 
is  still  distinguished  for  its  trade.  The  water  is  unequalled, 
and  the  climate  a  perpetual  spring.  It  was  the  native  place 
of  Eliezer,  the  servant  of  Abraham;  (Gen.  xv.  2;)  it  was 
subdued  by  David,  (2  Sam.  viii.  5,  6,)  who  placed  a  garri- 
son there.  During  the  latter  part  of  Solomon's  reign  it  was 
invaded  and  possessed  by  a  certain  Rezon.  (1  Kings  xi. 


44  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

23,  24,  25.)  Long  after  this,  Asa,  king  of  Judah,  entered 
into  a  league  with  Benhadad,  the  king  of  Damascus,  (l 
Kings  XV.  18 — 22.)  Jeroboam  II.  conquered  this  city.  (2 
Kings  xiv.  28.)  In  New -Testament  times,  we  find  it  under 
subjection  to  Aretas,  king  of  Arabia,  from  whose  governor 
the  apostle  Paul  escaped.  (2  Cor.  xi.  32,  33.) 

XII.  Hobah,  a  place  north  of  Damascus.  (Gen.  xiv.  15.) 
Abram  pursued  thus  far  the  kings  whom  he  conquered.  A 
hill  is  still  shown  to  travellers,  near  Damascus,  which  is 
said  to  be  the  same  place,  and  which  bears  the  same  name. 

XIII.  Beth-Eden,  or  House  of  Pleasure,  is  referred  to  by 
the  prophet  Amos,  (ch.  i.  5,)  and  appears  from  this  passage 
to  have  been  the  seat  of  a  kingdom  770  years  before  Christ. 
The  modern  village  Ehden,  on  mount  Lebanon,  is  by  the 
oriental  Christians  supposed  to  be  within  the  limits  of  the 
terrestrial  Paradise.  The  modern  traveller,  Burckhardt, 
found  a  place  still  nearer  to  Damascus,  which  had  a  name 
of  the  same  signification ;  viz.  Beit  el-Dschanne,  and  which 
is  probably  the  house  of  Eden  mentioned  by  the  prophet. 

XIV.  Berothai  or  Berothah  is  supposed  to  be  the  modern 
Beyroot ;  but  this  is  left  in  great  uncertainty,  and  we  are 
constrained  to  confess  our  ignorance.  (2  Sam.  viii.  8,  Ezek. 
xlvii.  16.) 

XV.  Betah  is  mentioned  in  connexion  w^ith  Berothai, 
(2  Sam.  viii.  8,)  and  is  likewise  unknown.  The  same 
must  be  said  of  Sibraim,  (Ezek.  xlvii.  16,)  a  neighbouring 
plac€. 

XVI.  Ziphron,  Zedad,  and  Hagar-enan  were  upon  the 
north-eastern  frontier  of  Israel,  but  their  exact  position  is 
undetermined.  (Num.  xxxiv.  8 — 10,  Ezek.  xlvii.  15.) 

XVII.  Hazar-hatticon,  or  Middle-court,  was  situated^ 
(Ezek.  xlvii.  16,)  on  the  borders  of  Hauran  or  Auranitis, 
and  consequently  upon  the  south-east  border  of  Syria. 

XVIII.  Helhlon  appears,  (Ezek.  xlvii.  15,  xlviii.  1,)  to 
have  been  near  the  Mediterranean,  on  the  south-west  bor- 
der of  Syria. 


SYRIA,  OR  ARAM.  45 

.1,  ^^^-  ^^'«^'   P  Sam.  X.   16,  17,)  was  probably  upon 
the  south-eastern  frontier  of  Syria. 

CLIMATE,  SOIL,  AND  LANGUAGE  OF  SYRIA- 

''Syria  divides  itself  into  three  tracts  of  country,  verr 
different  in  character.     That  portion  which  is  adjacent  to 
the  Mediterranean  sea,  is  a  hot,  moist,  unhealthful,  but  ex- 
tremely fertile  valley.     The  part  next  in  order  consists  of 
a  double  range  of  parallel  mountains,  running  from  south- 
west to  north-east,  with  innumerable  cliffs,  narrow  vallevs 
and  ravines.     The  air  is  here  dry  and  salubrious,  and  on 
the  western  branches  of  the  mountain,  natural  terraces  al- 
ternate with  well-watered  vales,  which  have  the  most  gen> 
tie  and  productive  soil ;  while,   on   the  other  hand    the 
eastern  heights  are  mountain-deserts,  which  approach  to 
the  third  region.    The  last  appears  to  be  an  extensive  level 
of  rocks  and  sands,  with  endless  plains.     The  spring  and 
autumn  are  pleasant  in  Syria,  and  the  summer  is  moderately 
warm  m  the  hill  country ;  but  in  the  plains  the  heat  be- 
gins suddenly,  as  soon  as  the  sun  reaches  the  equator  and 
lasts  until  the  end  of  October.     The  winter,  on  the 'con- 
trary,  is  so  mild  that  pomegranates,  dates,    bananas,  and 
other  delicate  trees  and  plants  grow  and  flourish  in  the  open 
fields,  while  the  peaks  of  Lebanon  are  glistening  with  ice 
and  snow."   (Rosenmuller.) 

Syria  is  subject  to  earthquakes,  and  to  destructive  visita- 
tions of  the  locust. 

The  language  of  ancient  Syria  bore  a  close  resemblance 
to  the  Hebrew  and  Arabic,  but  was  still  more  like  the 
Chaldee.  At  present  the  Arabic  has  in  great  measure  sup- 
planted the  Syriac  language. 

Syria  was,  in  the  earlier  ages  of  its  history,  divided  into 
a  number  of  petty  kingdoms,  as  Zobah,  (1  Sam.  xiv  47  2 
Sam  viii  3^)  Geshur,  (-2  Sara.  iii.  .3,)  Maachah,  (2  Sam, 
X.  b,)  and  Damascus.  The  kings  of  these  countries  were  in 
almost  constant  war  with  the  Hebrews.  Saul  contended 
with  the  kings  of  Zobah,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  47,)  and  David 
with  Hadadezer,  of  the  same  region,  (2  Sara.  viii.  5.) 
During  the  reign  of  Solomon,  a  king  of  Zobah  of  this  name 
18  also  mentioned.  (1  Kings  xi.  23.)  Tabrimon,  king  of 
Syria,  was  an  ally  of  Abijah,  (1  Kings  xv.  19,)  but  their 
descendants,  Benhadad  and  Asa,  were  at  war.     The  kings 


46  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

of  Israel  and  Judah,  Ahab  and  Jehoshaphat,  entered  into  a 
league  against  Benhadad  the  second,  (1  Kings  xxii.  3,  4,) 
but  without  success ;  for  the  latter  besieged  Samaria,  and 
caused  great  distress  in  Israel.  (2  Kings  vi.)  Hazael  con- 
quered Israel,  and  oppressed  it  all  the  days  of  Jehoahaz  ;  (2 
Kings  X.  32,  xii.  17,  18,  xiii.  22 ;)  but  Benhadad  HI.  was 
made  tributary  by  Jeroljoam  II.  of  Israel.  (2  Kings  xiv. 
28.)-  Rezin,  by  means  of  an  alliance  against  Judah,  with 
Pekah,  king  of  Israel,  sought  to  gain  possession  of  Jerusa- 
lem ;  but  Ahaz  called  to  his  assistance  the  power  of  the  As- 
syrians, who  slew  Rezin,  took  Damascus,  and  carried  the 
people  of  it  captive  to  Kir.  (2  Kings  xvi.  7,  8,  9.)  Syria 
then  became  subject,  in  turn,  to  Assyrian,  Babylonian,  and 
Persian  dominion. 


ARABIA. 

Arabia  is  that  great  peninsula  which  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  part  of  Syria,  Diarbeker,  and  Irak  ;  on  the  east  by 
the  Euphrates  and  Persian  Gulf;  on  the  south  by  the  In- 
dian ocean  ;  and  on  the  west  by  the  Red  sea,  Palestine  and 
part  of  Syria.  By  the  inhabitants  it  is  called  Jesirat  el- Arab, 
or  the  peninsula  of  the  Arabs. 

The  ancient  Hebrews  denominated  this  region  the  east 
country,  (Gen.  xxv.  6,)  and  its  inhabitants  the  children  of 
the  east.  (Judg.  vi.  3,  Job  i.  3,  1  Kings  iv.  30,  Isa.  xi.  14.) 
By  Arabia  they  meant  only  a  small  district  of  the  country 
now  so  called.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  21,  2  Chron.  xxi.  16,  17.) 
Thus  the  Arabians  are  placed  in  connexion  with  the  Phi- 
listines. (2  Chron.  xxvi.  7.)  By  all  the  kings  of  Arabia, 
(1  Kings  X.  15,  Jer.  xxv.  24,)  we  many  understand  the 
chiefs  of  wandering  tribes,  who,  like  the  modern  Bedouin 
Arabs,  lived  in  tents.  (Isa.  xiii.  20.)  When  the  apostle 
Paul  speaks  (Gal.  i.  17,)  of  having  visited  Arabia,  he  means 
the  northern  part,  adjacent  to  the  country  of  Damascus ; 
but  when  he  says  that  Sinai  is  in  Arabia,  (ch.  iv.  25,)  he 
uses  the  name  in  its  extended  signification. 

Arabia  has  long  been  divided  into  Arabia  Pefraa,  Ara-- 
bia  Deserta,  and  Arabia  Felix ;  that  is,  Stony,  Desert,  and 
Happy  Arabia. 


ARABIA.  47 


I.  ARABIA  DESERTA. 

This  country  extends  as  far  east  as  the  Euphrates,  which 
divides  it  from  El-Jesira  (Mesopotamia,)  and  Arabian  Irak 
(Babylonia.)  It  is  mostly  a  sandy  desert,  of  great  extent, 
%vith  scarcely  vegetation  enough  to  support  the  camels  by 
which  it  is  traversed,  with  a  few  meagre  herbs,  and  with 
scarcely  any  water  except  what  is  collected  from  the  rains 
of  winter.  The  air  is  pure  and  dry,  and  the  heaven  usu- 
ally unclouded. 

These  deserts  are  visited  by  a  pestilential  blast,  by  the 
Arabs  termed  the  Sam  wind,  by  the  Persians  Samoun,  by 
the  Turks  Simoom  or  Samiel.  It  continues  only  a  few 
minutes,  but  is  suffocating  and  fatal  to  those  who  breathe 
it.  It  dries  up  the  skins  of  water,  and  leaves  the  bodies 
of  such  as  are  slain  by  it  in  such  a  condition,  that  the  limbs 
fall  to  pieces  upon  being  touched.  The  Hebrews  called 
this  destructive  blast  the  East-wind,  (Gen.  xli.  6,  23,)  and 
the  Tflnd  out  of  the  wilderness,  (Job  i.  19,  Isa.  xxi.  1,  2, 
Jer.  xiii.  24,  Hos.  xiii.  15.) 

Ever  since  the  days  of  Abraham  these  deserts  have  been 
wandered  over  by  tribes  of  Arabs,  who  reside  in  tents,  and 
move  from  place  to  place  with  their  herds  and  flocks. 
They  are  divided  into  clans,  each  of  which  has  its  Sheikh 
or  chief.  They  are  a  warlike  and  unconquered  people, 
and  are  at  the  present  day  called  Bedouins.  Such  were  the 
descendants  of  Abraham  by  Hagar  and  Keturah.  (1  Chron. 
V.  10,  Isa.  xiii.  20.)  The  wealth  of  these  people,  like 
that  of  the  patriarchs,  consists  mainly  in  cattle.  (Gen.  xiii. 
2—5,  xxiv.  35,  Job  i.  11,  13,  17.) 

These  various  Arab  tribes  are  all  descended  from  Shem. 
Aram,  the  fifth  of  Shem's  sons,  and  he  who  gave  name  to 
Syria,  had  four  sons,  (Gen.  x.  23,)  of  whom  Uz  or  Hur 
was  the  eldest.  The  eldest  son  of  Abraham's  brother  Na- 
hor  had  the  same  name,  (Gen.  xxii.  21,)  and  both  descend- 
ed from  Arphaxad.  (Gen.  xi.  10.)  From  one  of  these  de- 
scendants of  Shem,  the  land  of  Job  was  called  Uz,  (ch.  i.  1,) 
and  he  is  himself  described  as  abounding  in  that  kind  of 
wealth  which  is  peculiar  to  a  Bedouin  Sheikh.  Jeremiah 
speaks  of  all  the  kings  of  Uz,  (Jer.  xxv.  20,)  whence  we 
infer  that  it  was  an  extensive  district ;  while  from  another 


48  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

passage  it  would  seem  that  the  Edomites  possessed  this 
country.  (Lam.  iv.  21.) 

This  country  must,  however,  be  distinguished  from 
Edom  itself,  as  they  are  separately  mentioned  by  the  same 
prophet.  (Jer.  xxv.  20,  21.)  We  may  therefore  take  Uz 
for  the  northern  part  of  Desert  Arabia,  between  the  country 
of  Damascus,  and  the  Euphrates.  At  the  same  time  many 
have  maintained  that  Uz  was  in  Idumea. 

DESCENDANTS  OF  HAGAR. 

The  descendants  of  Abraham  and  Hagar,  are  called  some- 
times Hagarites  and  sometimes  Ishmaelites.  The  former 
of  these  were  near  Gilead,  (1  Chron.  v.  10,)  and  had  war 
with  the  Reubenites.  They  are  also  mentioned  in  con- 
nexion with  the  Ishmaelites  and  Moabites.  (Ps.  Ixxxiii.  7.) 
They  seem  to  have  been  rich  in  cattle.  (1  Chron.  v.  21.) 
There  is  a  region  still  called  by  their  name,  Hadshar  or 
Hqjar,  in  the  district  of  Bassora,  east  of  Nadsched  and  north 
of  Oman,  celebrated  for  its  asses  and  camels. 

The  Ishmaelites  are  distinguished  from  the  Hagarites. 
(Ps.  Ixxxiii.  6.)  Ishmael  had  12  sons,  (Gen.  xxv.  12 — 16,) 
and  these,  or  their  descendants,  spread  over  that  part  of 
Arabia  which  lies  between  Havilah  and  Haulan,  (S.  E.  of 
Palestine,)  to  Shur,  near  Egypt.  Even  in  Jacob's  time 
they  traded  with  Egypt,  (Gen.  xxxvii.  25,  xxxix.  1,)  and 
are  specified  to  be  descendants  of  Midian.  (Gen.  xxxvii. 
28.)  In  Gideon's  time  the  Ishmaelites  and  Midianites  are 
spoken  of  as  the  same  people.  (Judg.  viii.  22,  24,  26.) 

The  descendants  of  the  two  eldest  sons  of  Ishmael,  Ne- 
bajoth  and  Kedar,  (Gen.  xxv.  13,)  are  the  Nabatheans 
and  Cedrei  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  (Isa.  Ix.  7.)  The 
N  abatheans  were  scattered  over  all  the  three  Arabias.  The 
Kedarites  dwelt,  like  the  modern  Bedouins,  under  black 
tents,  (Sol.  Song  i.  5,)  which  were  collected  into  little  vil- 
lages or  encampments.  (Isa.  xlii.  11.)  They  were  rich  in 
herds,  (Isa.  Ix.  7,  Jer.  xlix.  28,  29,)  and  were  warlike  and 
expert  archers.  (Isa.  xxi.  16,  17,  Ps.  cxx.  7.)  It  is  not  said 
where  they  made  their  settlement.* 

*  In  connexion  with  Kedar,  Jeremiah  (xlix.  28,  30, 33,)  speaks  of 
the  kingdoms  of  Hazor,  By  this  name  are  probably  meant  those 
Arabs  who  had  fixed  dweUings  in  the  countries  traversed  by  the 
wandering  tribes. 


ARABIA.  49 

The  next  son  of  Ishmael,  of  whose  posterity  we  read,  is 
the  sixth,  Dumah.  In  Isaiah  (xxi.  11,)  a  prophecy  is  di- 
rected against  this  people.  Tradition  informs  us  that  they 
dwelt  on  the  borders  of  the  Syrian  desert,  near  Irak,  seven 
days'  journey  from  Damascus. 

Tema  was  the  ninth  son  of  Ishmael.  (Gen.  xxv.  15.)  This 
name  is  mentioned  by  Jeremiah,  (xxv.  23,)  with  Dedan 
and  Buz,  two  other  Arab  tribes.  They  are  spoken  of  by 
Isaiah,  (xxi.  13,)  in  connexion  with  the  caravans  of  Dedan. 

Jetur  and  Naphish,  the  tenth  and  eleventh  of  Ishmael's 
sons,  were  the  progenitors  of  those  who  fought  against  the 
Reubenites,  (1  Chron.  v.  19,  20,)  in  the  time  of  Saul.  We 
suppose  that  they  dwelt  near  the  tribe  of  Gad. 

DESCENDANTS  OF  KETURAH. 

The  sons  of  Abraham  and  Keturah  were  Zimram,  Jok- 
shan,  Medan,  Midian,  Ishbak,  and  Shuah.  Midian  alone 
seems  to  have  had  any  distinguished  descendants.  We 
have  already  seen  that  in  Jacob's  time  they  had  united 
with  the  Ishmaelites ;  (Gen.  xxxvii.  25,  27,  28,  36 ;)  we 
may  add,  that  they  were  also  nearly  allied  with  the  Moab- 
jtes.  (Gen.  xx:xvi.  35,  Num.  xxii.  3,  4,  7,  xxv.  1,  6.)  Mi- 
dian is  joined  with  Ephah  by  Isaiah,  (Ix.  6.)  Their  country 
extended  along  the  east  of  Palestine  in  Desert  Arabia. 
(See  p.  54.) 

Shuah  was  the  youngest  son  of  Keturah.  (Gen.  xxv.  2.) 
Bildad  the  Shuhite  was  probably  one  of  his  posterity. 

Jokshan,  the  second  son,  was  the  father  of  Sbeba  and 
Dedan.  (Gen.  xxv.  3.)  From  Shebathe  Sabeans  are  thought 
to  have  descended.   (Job  i.  15.) 

Dedan  inhabited  a  part  of  Idumea,  the  land  of  Esau. 
(Jer.  xlix.  6.  Ezek.  xxv.  13.)  Another  tribe  of  this  name, 
but  of  different  extraction,  (Gen.  x.  7,)  dwelt  in  Southern 
Arabia,  on  the  Persian  Gulf.  Among  the  sons  of  Dedan 
were  the  Ashurim,  Letushim,  and  Leummim,  (Gen.  xxv. 
3,)  of  whom  we  know  nothing. 

AMMONITES. 

The  Ammonites  were  the  descendants  of  Amjnon  or  Ben- 
Ammi,  who  was  the  son  of  Lot,  and  brother  of  Moab.  (Gen. 
xix.  14,  30 — 38.)     They  spread  themselves  over  the  coun- 
tries east  and  north-east  of  the  Moabites,  who  were  nearer 
E 


60  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

to  the  Dead  sea.  These  countries  were,  before  this,  occu- 
pied by  various  tribes  of  giants,  and  the  Ammonites  subdued 
and  supplanted  the  Zamzummim.  (Deut.  ii.  21.)  Their 
kingdom  was  at  first  bounded  by  the  river  Jabbok  on  the 
north ;  and  separated  from  Moab  on  the  south  by  the  Ar- 
non.  From  this  land,  however,  they  were  subsequently 
driven  by  the  Amorites,  and  possessed  a  district  more  to 
the  east.  (See  p.  51.) 

The  country  between  the  rivers  was  taken  from  the 
Amorites  by  the  children  of  Israel,  (Num.  xxi.  24,)  and 
appropriated  to  the  tribes  of  Gad  and  Reuben.  The  Am- 
monites made  war  against  Israel,  (Judg.  xi.  13,)  in  the  days 
of  Jephthah,  for  the  recovery  of  this  territory.  Still  later 
they  besieged  Jabesh-gilead,  (1  Sam.  xi.  1,)  which  was  de- 
livered by  Saul.  With  David  they  were  upon  terms  of 
friendship  (2  Sam.  x.  2,)  until  their  insolence  led  to  their 
overthrow,  (xi.  1.)  In  almost  every  age  of  the  Hebrew 
commonwealth,  there  was  enmity  between  the  Ammonites 
and  the  people  of  Israel ;  and  against  this  nation  many  pro- 
phecies are  directed.  (2  Chron.  xxvii.  5,  Amos  i.  13,  Zeph. 
ii.  8,  Jer.  xlix.  1—5,  Ezek.  xxi.  28,  Neh.  iv.  3.) 

Rabbath  was  the  chief  city  of  the  Ammonites,  (Deut.  iii. 
11,)  which  is  also  called  Rabbah,  (Josh.  xiii.  25,)  or  the 
great.  It  was  taken  by  David,  (2  Sam.  xii.  27,)  and  was 
called  by  Joab  the  city  of  waters  from  the  river  which 
passed  through  it.  Jeremiah  predicted  its  ruin,  (xlix.  1,  2.) 
By  Josephus,  the  great  Jewish  Historian,  it  is  called  Ra- 
batha,  but  was  also  known  under  the  name  of  Philadelphia. 
It  was  a  great  city  even  at  the  time  of  Christ,  as  appears 
from  the  ruins  which  still  remain.  It  is  now  called  Amman, 
and  lies  upon  the  stream  Moiet-Amman,  about  20  miles  S. 
east  of  Szalt. 

Aroer,  which  must  be  distinguished  from  that  upon  the 
Arnon,  (See  p.  1 10,)  lay  in  the  midst  of  the  river  of  Gad^  (2 
Sam.  xxiv.  5,)  that  is,  the  Jabbok,  now  Wadi  Serka,  which 
was  the  dividing  stream  between  Gad  and  Ammon. 

Abel-keramim.  The  reader  will  find  this  name  trans- 
lated the  Plain  of  the  vineyards.  (Judg.  xi.  33.)  In  the 
second  century  a  place  called  Abel  was  still  known,  about 
six  miles  firom  Rabbah. 

Minnith,  a  place  famous  for  wheat,  as  was  all  this  land, 
was  about  four  miles  from  Heshbon  on  the  road  to  Rabbah. 
(2  Chron.  xxvii.  5,  Ezek.  xxvii.  17.) 


ARABIA.  51 


II.  ARABIA  PETRiEA,  OR  STONY  ARABIA. 

This  country  well  deserves  to  be  so  called,  on  account  of 
its  numerous  rocks;  yet  the  name  was,  in  fact,  derived 
from  its  ancient  capital,  Petra,  (a  rock.)  A  part  of  Ara- 
bia Petroea,  lying  upon  the  Elanitic  gulf,  was  called  Naba- 
thea,  from  a  tribe  already  mentioned,  (see  p.  48,)  who  ex- 
tended themselves  also  in  the  Desert  and  the  Happy  Arabia. 

Arabia  Petraea  is  encircled  by  Arabia  Deserta,  Arabia 
Felix,  Palestine,  Egypt,  and  the  Arabian  gulf,  and  is  the 
north-western  division.  It  will  be  useful  to  examine  the 
countries  included  within  these  limits  more  minutely, 

1.  THE  COUNTRY  OF  THE  MOABITES. 

The  northern  part  of  Arabia  Petraea,  was  in  very  early 
times,  possessed  by  the  descendants  of  Moab,  the  brother 
of  Ammon.  (Gen.  xix.  37.)  This  tribe  spread  itself  along 
the  eastern  side  of  the  Dead  sea,  after  expelling  the  Emim^ 
a  race  of  giants,  (Deut.  ii.  9,  10,)  and  had  the  Jabbok  for 
their  northern  boundary.  From  this  region,  however,  they 
were  driven  by  the  Amorites,  so  that  the  Arnon  became 
their  northern  limit.  (Num.  xxi.  13,  36,  Judg.  xi.  IB.) 
The  Israelites  passed  through  their  land,  regardless  of  the 
hatred  of  Balak,  (Num.  xxii. — xxiv.)  without  dispossess- 
ing the  Moabites,  who  were  exceedingly  alarmed  at  this 
unexpected  host.  (Num.  xxii.  3,  Deut.  i.  5,  ii.  18,  29, 
xxix.  1.)  After  the  death  of  Joshua,  the  Hebrews  were, 
for  a  time,  subject  to  the  king  of  Moab,  (Judg.  iii.  12 — 
30.)  JSaul  and  David  were  both  engaged  in  wars  against 
this  people,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  47,  2  Sam.  viii.  2,  1  Chron. 
xix.  2.) 

The  country  of  the  Moabites  was  fertile  and  agreeable. 
In  times  of  famine  it  was  the  resort  of  sufferers  from  Pales- 
tine ;  as  in  the  case  of  Ruth.  In  wine  and  grain  it  was 
abundant,  (Isa.  xvi.  8,  9,  10,)  and  its  meadows  were  cover- 
ed with  innumerable  flocks,  (2  Kings  iii.  4.)  The  northern 
part  of  the  land,  now  called  Belka,  is  the  best  pasture- 
0^  ground  in  all  Syria.  The  southern  part,  or  Moab  Proper, 
is  now  called  Karak  or  Kerek,  from  a  city  of  the  same  name. 
The  Arnon,  (now  Wadi-mujeb,)  is  the  principal  river 
of  Moab.  (See  p.  100.) 


4 


52  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

The  Zared  or  Zered  was  a  stream  further  south,  flowing 
from  mount  Abarim.  Upon  its  banks  the  Israelites  once 
encamped.  (Num.  xxi.  12,  Deut.  ii.  13.) 

The  Nimriniy  (Isa.  xv.  6,)  was  probably  a  stream  in  the 
northern  part  of  Moab,  near  to  Beth-Nimrah.  (See  p.  111. 

Mountains  are  numerous  in  this  land  ;  but  three  only  are 
named  in  the  Scriptures;  viz.  Peor,  (Num.  xxiii.  28,)  in 
the  vicinity  of  Nebo  and  Pisgah.  (See  p.  86.  Upon  this 
we  may  suppose  the  idol  Baal-Peor,  (Num.  xxv.  3,  5,)  to 
Iiave  been  worshipped. 

Luhith,  (Isa.  xv.  5,  Jer.  xlviii.  5,)  an  elevation  near  a 
town  of  this  name,  between  Areopolis  and  Zoar. 

Abarim,  upon  the  southern  border  of  Moab,  where  it 
joins  Edom  or  Idumea,  (Num.  xxi.  11.  xxxiii.  44,  47,  48.) 
The  modern  mount  Dhana  is  probably  a  part  of  Abarim. 

The  principal  cities  of  Moab  were  Ar  and  Kir-Moah. 

1.  Ar  was  the  capital,  (Num.  xxi.  15,  Deut.  ii.  18,  Isa. 
XV.  1,)  and  was  called  also  Kabbah,  or  the  great,  (Josh.  xiii. 
25,)  and  Rabbath-Moab,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  chief 
town  of  the  Ammonites  was  called  Rabbath- Amnion,  (see 
above.)  By  the  Greeks  it  was  named  Areopolis,  city  of 
Mars.  Its  ruins  have  been  discovered  by  modern  travel- 
lers, and  near  them  two  copious  fountains.  (Num.  xxi.  15.) 

2.  Kir  of  Moab,  the  bulwark  or  city  of  Moab,  (Isa.  xv. 
31,)  is  also  called  Kir-hareseth  and  Kir-heres,  (Isa.  xvi. 
7,  11,  Jer.  xlviii.  31,)  and  was  the  principal  fortress  of  the 
land.  It  was  destroyed  by  Joram,  king  of  Israel,  but  must 
have  been  rebuilt  before  these  prophecies  were  pronounced. 
Kerek  or  Karak  is  the  modern  name ;  and  among  its  ruins 
dwelt,  in  1812,  about  400  Turks  and  150  Christians. 

The  prophet  Jeremiah  mentions  a  number  of  Moabitish 
cities  and  towns,  (ch.  xlviii.)  most  of  which  were  taken 
from  the  tribes  of  Gad  and  Reuben.  Among  these  were 
Heshbon ;  (see  p.  109,)  Madmen,  which  is  no  where  else 
named ;  Horonaim,  probably  upon  mount  Luhith.  (See 
above.)  Beth-diblathaim  (v.  22,)  is  the  Diblathaim  of  Moses, 
(Num.  xxxiii.  46.)  These  places,  so  far  as  any  thing  is 
known  of  them,  are  described,  under  the  towns  of  Israel, 


ARABIA.  53 


II.  EDOM,  OR  IDUMEA. 

Upon  the  southern  borders  of  Moab,  lay  the  country  of 
Edom,  called  Idumea  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  IJdom 
was  one  of  the  names  of  Esau,  (Gen.  xxv.  30,)  whose  de- 
scendants peopled  this  region.  It  is  now  called  Sherath, 
and  extends  from  the  south-east  end  of  the  Dead  sea  towards 
the  Elanitic  Gulf,  which  is  a  branch  of  the  Red  sea.  It 
was  inhabited,  prior  to  this,  (Deut.  ii.  11,  22,)  by  the  Ho- 
rim,  or  dwellers  in  caves,  who  still  continued  to  the  north- 
east districts.  (Gen.  xxxvi.  20.)  Teman  a  grandson  of 
Esau,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  11,)  gave  name  to  a  part  of  the  land. 
(Jer.  xlix.  7,  20,  Ezek.  xxv.  13,  Obad.  9.)  Here  dwelt 
Eliphaz  the  Temanite.  (Job  ii.  11.)  The  Edomites  were 
perpetual  enemies  of  Israel,  (1  Sam.  xiv.  47,  2  Sam.  viii. 
14,  Ps.  Ix.  8,  9,  1  Chron.  xviii.  12,  13,  1  Kings  xi.  15,  16,) 
but  were  generally  kept  in  subjection ;  yet  in  later  times 
we  find  them  extending  north-east  as  far  as  Hauran,  and 
south  as  far  as  Dedan  in  Arabia.  (Jer.  xlix.  8 — 20,  Isa. 
xxxiv.  6,  Ixiii.  1,  Ezek.  xxv.  13.)  The  Scriptures  men- 
tion only  a  few  cities  of  Edom  :  of  those  named,  Gen. 
xxxvi.  31 — 39,  there  is  very  little  upon  record. 

Sela,  (meaning  Rock,)  was  the  most  noted  city  of  ancient 
Idumea ;  it  was  called  Petra  by  the  Greeks.  (See  p.  51.) 
Its  name  was  changed  to  Joktheel  (2  Kings  xiv.  7,)  by 
Amaziah.  We  are  told  that  it  was  three  days'  journey 
from  Jericho.  The  village  of  Wadi-Musa  is  supposed  to 
stand  on  its  ruins,  which  are  in  a  deep  valley,  out  of  which 
rises  Mount  Hor,  the  place,  it  is  said,  of  Aaron's  burial. 
(Num.  XX.  27,  28,  xxxiii.  37,  38.)  The  high  rocks  and 
deep  defiles  of  these  mountains  constituted  the  great  citadel 
of  the  Edomites,  (Obad.  4.  Jer.  xlix.  10,  16,)  and  are  de- 
scribed as  being  still  wonderfully  adapted  for  desperate  de- 
fence. 

Mount  Seir  is  a  mountainous  tract  stretching  from  the 
southern  point  of  the  Dead  sea,  to  the  gulf  of  Acaba  or 
Ezion-geber.  It  is  now  known  at  different  parts  of  its 
course  by  the  names  of  Djibal  Shera,  Djibal  Hesma,  and 
El  Djibal.  The  mean  height  of  this  range  is  about  4,000 
feet. 

Kadesh,  in  the  desert  of  Zin,  is  to  be  distinguished  from 
a  place  of  this  name  in  the  desert  of  Paran.  The  former 
e2 


64  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

was  near  to  Selah,  but  its  exact  position  is  undetermined. 
(Num.  XX.  1,  xxxiii.  36.) 

Elath  and  Ezion-geber  were  two  noted  sea-ports  upon 
the  Elanitic  branch  of  the  Red  sea,  (Deut.  ii.  8,)  where 
the  modern  town  of  Akaba  now  stands.  We  place  them 
together,  because  it  is  now  impossible  to  discover  the  dif- 
ferent sites  of  these  sister  towns.  Here  Solomon  built  the 
ships  (1  Kings  ix.  26—28,  x.  21,  22,)  which  traded  with 
Ophir. 

III.  THE  AMALEKITES. 

The  Aiualekites,  whose  land  was  west  of  Edom,  are 
mentioned  as  early  as  the  days  of  Abram,  (Gen.  xiv.  7,) 
and  are  called  in  the  prophecy  of  Balaam,  (Num.  xxiv. 
20,)  the  first  of  the  nations.  When  Chedorlaomer  (Gen. 
xiv.)  had  conquered  the  Rephaims  and  the  Horites  of  Seir 
as  far  as  the  desert  of  Paran,  (ver.  6.)  he  returned  to  Ka- 
desh  and  smote  all  the  country  of  the  Amalekites.  Hence 
it  appears  that  they  dwelt  between  Kadesh,  Seir,  and  En- 
gedi,  adjacent  on  the  north-west  to  Philistia,  and  south  to 
Egypt  or  the  desert  of  Sinai.  They  were  the  first  enemies 
to  oppose  Israel  on  their  journey  from  Egypt,  (Ex.  xvii. 
8 — 13,)  and  after  an  obstinate  continuance  of  hatred,  (Judg. 
iii.  13,  vi.  3,  1  Sam.  xxvii.  8,  9,  2  Sam.  viii.  11,  12,) 
their  few  remains  were  destroyed  under  Hezekiah.  (1 
Chron.  iv.  43.) 

IV.  THE  KENITES. 

Are  supposed  to  have  dwelt  near  the  Amalekites,  in  the 
south-western  part  of  Arabia  Petrsea. 

V.  THE  MIDIANITES. 

The  fourth  son  of  Abraham  and  Keturah,  (Gen.  xxv.  2,) 
was  Midian.  (See  p.  49.)  There  was  a  land  of  Midian  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  mountains  Sinai  and  Horeb,  (Ex. 
iii.  1.  xviii.  5,)  where  Jethro  resided.  These  people,  who 
were  friends  of  Israel,  must  not  be  confounded  with  those 
who  were  allies  of  Moab.  (Num.  xxii.  4,  5.)  The  latter 
were  frequently  at  war  with  the  Hebrews,  and  were  in  a 
signal  manner  overthrown  by  Gideon,  (Judg.  vi.  1 — 6,)  so 
that  they  gave  little  trouble  in  subsequent  periods.  (Judg. 


ARABIA.  55 

vi.  7,  vii.  viii.  See  also  Psal.  Ixxxiii.  9 — 12,  Isa.  ix.  4. 
X.  26,  Hab.  iii.  7.)  A  town  called  Moilah  is  still  in  ex- 
istence, which  is  probably  the  Madian  of  the  ancients. 
Midian  was  celebrated  for  its  camels,  (Judg.  vii.  12,  Isa. 
Ix.  6,)  and  the  descendants  of  Ephah,  eldest  son  of  Midian, 
were  rich  in  camels  and  dromedaries.  (Isa.  Ix.  6.) 

VI.  THE  PENINSULA.  OF  MOUNT  SINAI. 

The  southern  part  of  Arabia  Petraea  is  a  peninsula  form- 
ed by  two  arms  of  the  Red  sea,  which  stretch  into  the 
land,  the  one  in  a  north-east,  the  other  in  a  north-west  di- 
rection. The  eastern  is  the  Elanitic  gulf  already  men- 
tioned ;  the  western  is  called  by  the  ancients  the  Heroopo- 
litan  gulf,  and  now  the  Sea  of  Suez.  This  peninsula  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  the  desert  of  El-Tyh.  That  part 
of  the  Arabian  gulf  which  washes  its  southern  coast  is  call- 
ed, as  above,  the  Red  sea.  So  many  contradictory  accounts 
are  given  of  the  causes  which  produced  this  name,  that  we 
shall  leave  it  undetermined,  as  a  matter  of  small  importance. 
Upon  the  north  of  this  peninsula  is  the  chain  of  mountains 
called  El-Tyh,  of  which  Sinai  and  Hor  form  the  southern 
portion.  It  is  this  region  of  country,  broken  and  moun- 
tainous, which  is  noticed  in  the  Scriptures  under  the  name 
of  the  TVilderness  of  Sinai.  (Ex.  xix.  1.  Num.  i.  1.) 
North  of  the  mountain  Zebeir  is  a  frightful  waste,  without 
vegetation  or  water.  With  justice  was  this  land  called 
(Deut.  i.  19,  viii.  15,)  a  great  and  terrible  wilderness,  (Jer. 
ii.  6,)  an  uninhabited,  dark,  and  parched  land,  (Num.  xx. 
5,)  a  place  of  no  seed,  or  figs,  or  vines,  or  pomegranates,  or 
water. 

MOUNT  SINAI. 

This  is  certainly  the  most  distinguished  spot  in  the  pen- 
insula of  which  we  have  spoken.  We  are  not  to  under- 
stand by  the  name  of  Sinai,  a  single  hill  or  peak ;  but  a 
prodigious  mountain  pile,  which,  according  to  Burckhardt, 
is  from  30  to  40  miles  in  diameter,  and  comprehends  many 
separate  peaks,  the  highest  of  which  is  that  called  Djibel- 
Musa,  or  the  mountain  of  Moses.  On  the  west  of  this,  but 
of  less  height,  is  Mount  Catherine,  and  these  two  peaks 
form  that  to  which  the  name  Sinai  particularly  belongs. 


56  OEOORAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Horeh  and  Sinai  were  either  the  same  mountain  or  different 
parts  of  the  same  pile.  That  which  in  Exodus,  Leviticus, 
and  Numbers  is  called  Sinai,  (Ex.  xix.  20,  xxiv.  16.  xxxi. 
18,  xxxiv.  %  29,  Lev.  vii.  38,  xxvi.  46,  iii.  1,)  is  in 
Deuteronomy  called  Horeb.  (i.  6,  iv.  10,  15,  v.  2,  xviii. 
16,  xxix.  1,  Mai.  iv.  14.)  It  is  inferred  from  the  ac- 
counts of  the  latest  travellers  that  the  Horeb  from  which 
a  stream  of  water  was  miraculously  brought,  (Ex.  xvii.)  is 
the  mountain  now  called  Serbal,  20  or  30  miles  distant  from 
Sinai.  At  the  same  time  it  is  granted  that,  when  speaking 
in  a  general  way  of  these  mountains,  the  term  Horeb  is 
used ;  while  in  particular  relation  of  events  Horeb  and  Sinai 
are  made  distinct :  the  former  lying  considerably  to  the 
west  or  north-west  of  the  latter.  There  is  a  celebrated 
convent  upon  mount  Sinai.* 

JOURNEYINGS  OF  THE  ISRAELITES. 

There  is  no  subject  in  all  sacred  Geography  which  pre- 
sents so  many  difficulties,  as  the  path  of  the  Israelites  on 
their  pilgrimage  from  Egypt  to  the  promised  land.  To 
detail  all  that  has  been  written  for  the  purpose  of  tracing 
this  path,  would  fill  volumes,  and  at  the  end  leave  the 
reader  undecided  as  to  many  points.  In  a  work  as  concise 
in  its  plan,  and  humble  in  its  pretensions  as  this  must  be, 
nothing  more  than  a  sketch  of  the  general  results  can  be 
demanded. 

1.  The  children  of  Israel  journeyed  from  Rameses  to 
Succoth.  (Num.  xxxiii.  5.)  Rameses  was  a  city  in  the 
land  of  Goshen,  about  6  or  8  miles  above  the  modern  Cairo. 
Succoth  means  a  place  of  booths,  and  was  probably  a  mere 
halting-station  for  caravans,  or  travelling-companies.  Their 
course  was  a  little  northward. 

2.  Etham,  ''in  the  edge  of  the  wilderness."  (ver.  6.) 
This  was  a  march  of  about  60  miles,  although  the  gulf  was 
probably  nearer  to  their  place  of  setting  out,  than  at  the 
present  day,  making  the  journey  40  miles.  This  is  even 
now  a  wilderness  or  parched  and  stony  desert. 

3.  Pi-hahiroth.  From  Etham  they  were  commanded  to 
return,  to  a  place  between  Migdal  and  the  sea,  opposite  to 

*  See  Mansford,  and  Rosenmiiller. 


ARABIA.  «I 

Baal-Zephon.  (Ex.  xiv.  9,  Num.  xxxiii.  7.)  This  was  a 
narrow  pass,  shut  in  by  the  sea  on  the  east ;  mountains  on 
the  west ;  and  a  small  bay  on  the  south. 

4.  Passage  through  the  Red  sea.  (Ex.  xiv.  22.)  The 
precise  place  where  this  astonishing  miracle  was  wrought, 
is  fixed  by  Dr.  Mansford  about  20  miles  below  Suez,  oppo- 
site the  valley  of  Bedea:  where  the  channel  was  suffi- 
ciently broad  and  deep  to  make  the  miracle  worthy  of  its 
Author  and  its  object ;  the  gulf  being  three  leagues  over, 
with  water  14  fathoms  deep.  The  north  cape  of  this  bay 
is  still  called  Ras-Musa — the  cape  of  Moses.  They  made 
three  day's  journey  in  the  desert  of  Etham,  still  a  sandy 
and  gravelly  plain,  called  El-Ahta. 

5.  Marah.  (Ex.  xv.  23.  Num.  xxxiii.  9.)  The  bitter 
well  of  Howara  is  thought  to  be  the  spot.  It  should  be  ob- 
served that  the  Israelites  were  now  going  southward,  keep- 
ing near  to  the  coast  of  the  Red  sea. 

6.  Elim ;  where  were  twelve  wells,  and  seventy  palm- 
trees.  (Num.  xxxiii.  9.)  This  is  placed  in  the  vale  of  Gha- 
randel ;  here  there  is  a  copious  spring,  with  palm  or  date 
trees. 

7.  After  coming  still  nearer  to  the  sea,  (ver.  10,)  they 
again  receded  from  it,  going  into  the  heart  of  the  desert, 
which  brought  them  to — 

8.  The  wilderness  of  Sin,  (ver.  11,)  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountainous  ridge  El-Tyh.  (See  p.  55.) 

9.  10.  Dophkah  and  Alush ;  (ver.  12,  13;)  of  these 
places  nothing  is  known. 

11.  Rephidim,  on  tfie  edge  of  the  desert  of  Sinai,  (ver. 
14.) 

12.  Desert  of  Sinai,  (ver.  15.  See  Mount  Sinai.)  Leav- 
ing this,  (Num.  x.  12,)  they  came  to  the  desert  of  Paran, 
in  which  extensive  waste  they  had  various  encampments ; 
as  at — 

13.  Taberah,  or  Kibroth-hattaavah,  the  graves  of  hist. 
(Num.  xi.  31 — 34.)  From  this  place  the  stations  north- 
ward are — 

14.  Hazeroth.  (Num.  xi.  35.) 

15.  Rithmah.  (xxxiii.  18.) 

16.  Rimmon  Perez,  (ver.  19.) 

17.  Libnah.  (ver.  20.) 

18.  Rissah,  19,  Kehelathah,  20,  Shepher,  21,  Hara- 
dah,  22,  Makheloth,  23,  Tahath,  24,  Tarah,  25,  Mithcab, 


s# 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


26,  Mashmonah,  ^7,  Moseroth,  28,  Bene-jaakan,  29,  Hor- 
hagidgad,  30,  Jotbathah,  31.  Ebronah,  32,  Ezion-gaber. 
(Num.  xiv.  25,  xxxiii.  22 — 35.)  In  all  this  course  they 
were  retracing  their  steps ;  having  gone  northward  from 
Mount  Sinai  to  Rissah,  thence  southward  to  Ezion-gaber. 
To  fix  the  exact  situation  of  any  of  these  places  would  be 
vainly  attempted. 

•33.  The  desert  of  Zin.  This  is  a  valley  stretching  along 
the  whole  western  side  of  Mount  Seir ;  which,  like  it,  ex- 
tends from  the  Dead  sea  on  the  north,  to  the  Red  sea  on 
the  south.  It  is  about  five  miles  across,  and  is  now  called 
El-Ghor.  Into  this  valley  the  people  came  from  the  plain 
of  Elath  and  Ezion-gaber.  (Num.  xii.  16,  xx.  1,  14, 
xiii.  4.) 

34.  Mount  Hor.  (Num.  xxxiii.  .37.)  Leaving  Kadesh 
in  the  wilderness  of  Zin,  they  came  to  Mount  Hor,  "  in 
the  edge  of  Edom;"  a  mountain  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
desert  of  Zin,  and  standing  on  the  western  edge  of  Seir. 
Here  Aaron  was  buried.  (Num.  xx.  22 — 28.) 

35,  -36,  37,  38,  Zalmonah,  Punon,  Oboth,  Ije-abarim. 

39.  Zared;  (now  the  Wady  Ben  Hammed.)  From 
the  Zared  they  marched  to  Dibon-gad. 

40,  41,  42,  43,  44,  45,  Beer,  Almon-diblathaim,  Mat- 
tanah,  Nahaliel,  Bamoth,  Pisgah — which  last  is  the  part 
of  Mount  Abarim,  at  which  they  crossed.  (See  p.  86. 

The  reader  who  would  attain  to  any  distinct  notion  of 
this  journey  must  be  provided  with  a  correct  map,  upon 
which  the  track  is  marked.  In  the  sketch  above,  we  have 
borrowed  almost  entirely  from  Mansford's  Scripture  Gazet- 
teer, in  which  the  discussions  relative  to  this  journey  may 
be  found, 

III.  ARABIA  FELIX,  OR  YEMEN. 

The  southern  part  of  Arabia,  or  the  peninsula  between 
the  Persian  Gulf  and  the  Red  sea,  was  called  by  the  an- 
cients Arabia  the  Happy,  because  of  its  superior  fertility, 
its  fragrant  spices,  or  from  the  mere  national  partiality  of  its 
inhabitants.     Its  name  at  the  present  day  is  Vemen. 

The  face  of  the  country  and  its  qualities  vary  in  different 
parts.  Upon  the  coast  the  land  is  mostly  flat,  sandy,  un- 
productive, and  exposed  to  drought  and  excessive  heat. 


ARABIA.  09 

The  interior  of  the  country  is  hilly,  barren  it  is  true  in 
some  districts,  while  in  many  others  are  found  fertile 
heights,  good  water,  healthful  air,  delightful  landscapes, 
and  abundance  of  the  fruits  of  the  earth.  Here  are  pro- 
duced the  sugar-cane,  rice,  wheat,  barley,  lemons,  oranges, 
citrons,  pomegranates,  figs,  and  sweet  grapes.  Frankin- 
cense, myrrh,  and  cassia  were  brought  from  Arabia  Felix 
in  the  earliest  times.  Coffee  is  abundant,  but  has  been 
used  as  a  refreshing  beverage  only  since  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury. 

The  southern  part  of  Arabia  was  known  among  the  Is- 
raelites by  the  name  of  Ethiopia,  (Cush,)  a  term  which 
had  the  same  extent  of  meaning  as  India  has  among  the 
moderns.  We  are  so  much  accustomed  to  think  of  Ethio- 
pia as  a  country  of  Africa,  that  we  are  liable  to  fall  into 
mistakes  in  reading  the  Scriptures.  The  Ethiopian  woman 
whom  Moses  married,  (Num.  xii.  1,)  can  scarcely  be  con- 
sidered as  an  African,  but  was  probably  a  South-Arabian. 
When  Habakkuk  (iii.  7,)  speaks  of  the  affliction  of  Cushan 
and  Midian,  we  are  to  understand  it  of  the  same  people. 
In  one  place,  (2  Chron.  xxi.  16,)  the  Arabians  who  dwelt 
near  the  Ethiopians,  are  mentioned  ;  from  which  we  infer 
that  the  southern  inhabitants  of  this  peninsula  were  called 
Ethiopians. 

Southern  Arabia  was  peopled  by  the  descendants  both 
of  Ham  and  Shem. 

The  children  of  Ham. —  Cush  the  eldest  son  of  Ham, 
(Gen.  X.  7,)  had  five  sons,  Seba,  Havilah,  Sabtah,  Raa- 
mah,  and  Sabtecha.  The  posterity  of  these  appear  to  have 
spread  themselves  over  the  southern  part  of  Arabia,  and 
the  country  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Red  sea.  Seba 
must  be  sought  in  African  Ethiopia.  Havilah  probably 
gave  name  to  Haulan  a  part  of  Arabia  Felix.  Sabtah  is 
found  in  the  name  Sabatha  or  Sabotha,  a  sea-port  upon  the 
Red  sea.  Raamah  is  mentioned  (Ezek.  xxvii.  22,)  among 
the  places  which  traded  with  Tyre. 

Sheba  and  Dedan  were  sons  of  Raamah  ;  from  them  de- 
scended the  people  mentioned,  Ezek.  xxxviii.  13,  living 
near  the  Persian  Gulf.  We  know  from  history  that  there 
was  a  country  here  called  Daden. 

Sabtecha,  the  fifth  son  of  Cush  is  supposed  to  have  set- 
tled in  Caramania  or  Kerman.  We  need  scarcely  add  that 
we  know  almost  nothing  of  these  tribes. 


60  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

The  children  of  Shem  who  dwelt  in  southern  Arabia,  de- 
scended from  Joktan,  the  second  son  of  Shem's  grandson 
Eber.  (Gen.  x.  25,  26.)  Joktan  had  no  less  than  thirteen 
sons,  whose  dwelling  was  from  Mesha,  as  thou  goest  unto 
Sephar  a  mount  of  the  east,  (ver.  30.)  Mesha  is  taken  by- 
geographers  to  be  the  country  which  the  Greeks  called 
Mesene,  near  the  modern  Bassora.  Sephar  means  the  sea- 
coast,  and  is  supposed  to  lie  near  the  Red  sea,  somewhere 
about  the  modern  Tehamah.  It  will  not  be  expected  that 
after  so  many  ages  we  can  discover  the  abodes  of  these  sons 
of  Joktan  ;  some  imperfect  hints  may  be  derived  from  simi- 
larity of  names,  and  we  shall  add  all  that  seems  worthy  of 
recollection. 

1.  Sheleph.  (Gen.  x.  26.)  From  him  came  the  Sala- 
peni,  a  nation  in  the  interior  of  Arabia  Felix. 

2.  Hazarmaveth.  Hence  the  modern  Hadramaut,  bound- 
ed west  by  Yemen  ;  south-east  by  the  ocean  ;  north-east 
by  Oman  ;  and  north  by  a  great  desert. 

3.  Uzal,  the  sixth  son  of  Joktan,  (ver.  27,)  is  by  the 
whole  of  the  Arabs  said  to  have  founded  the  city  of  Sanaa 
in  Yemen,  which  bore  his  name  as  late  as  the  6th  century. 
Sanaa  is  the  chief  town  of  Yemen,  240  miles  N.  N.  E.  of 
Mocha,  and  450  S.  E.  of  Mecca.   Lat.  17°  28'  N. 

4.  Sheba,  the  tenth  son  of  Joktan,  (ver.  28,)  must  be 
distinguished  from  a  son  of  Raamah,  already  mentioned, 
who  bore  this  name,  (ver.  7,)  as  well  as  from  Sheba  the 
grandson  of  Abraham.  (Gen.  xxv.  3.)  The  Sheba  of  whom 
now  we  speak  is  supposed  to  be  the  father  of  the  Sabeans. 
A  certain  queen  of  Sheba  or  Saba,  attracted  by  the  celebrity 
of  Solomon's  wisdom  and  power,  was  led  to  visit  this  mon- 
arch, (1  Kings  x.  1,  4,  10,  2  Chron.  ix.  1,)  and  made  him 
presents  of  gems,  gold,  and  costly  spices, — articles  for  which 
the  Sabeans  were  famous  among  the  Greeks.  The  fabu- 
lous accounts  of  the  Arabians  pretend  that  the  name  of  this 
queen  was  Balkis,  and  a  palace  is  now  shown  in  Djof,  a 
province  of  Yemen,  which  is  called  the  palace  of  Balkis. 
There  is  reason  to  believe  this  was  the  country  of  Sheba. 

5.  Ophir  was  the  place  whence  the  ships  of  Solomon 
brought  gold  and  spices  and  precious  stones  to  Elath  and 
Ezion-geber.  (1  Kings  ix.  28,  x.  11,  2  Chron.  viii.  18, 
ix.  10.)  The  gold  of  Ophir  is  frequently  noticed  in  the 
Scriptures.  (Job  xxviii.  16,  Ps.  xlv.  9,  Isa.  xiii.  12, 
1  Chron.  xxix.  4,  Job  xxii.  24.)     But  where  was  Ophir  ? 


EGYPT.  61 

"  Not  fewer  than  fifteen  or  sixteen  countries,"  says  Mr. 
Home,  "  have  been  assigned  by  various  commentators  and 
critics,  as  the  site  of  Ophir."  Among  these,  the  only  three 
which  seem  worthy  of  attention  are  India,  Zanguebar  on 
the  African  coast,  and  Southern  Arabia.  The  reader,  after 
investigating  this  perplexed  subject,  may  form  his  own  de- 
cision ;  that  which  seems  least  encumbered  with  difficulties, 
is  that  it  was  in  Arabia.  It  is  scarcely  probable  that  as 
early  as  the  days  of  Job  (xxii.  24,)  there  should  have  been 
any  commerce  with  Zanguebar  or  India.  The  name  of 
Ophir  is  mentioned  in  connexion  with  those  which  un- 
doubtedly belong  to  southern  Arabia,  (Gen.  x.  29,)  and  es- 
pecially with  Sheba.  From  all  the  older  Greek  writers, 
we  find  that  gold  was  found  in  Arabia ;  and  indeed  it  is 
by  no  means  necessary  to  suppose  that  the  wares  which 
were  shipped  at  Ophir,  were  the  productions  of  that  coun- 
try alone.  i»    ,       i  •  iu 

Of  the  other  sons  of  Joktan,  we  can  find  nothing  suffi- 
ciently definite  to  be  deserving  of  notice. 

The  Arabic  language  is  derived  from  that  widely  ex- 
tended tongue  which  was  used  by  the  descendants  of  Shem, 
and  closely  resembles  the  Hebrew,  Chaldee,  and  Syriac. 
It  has  been  a  spoken  language  for  many  centuries,  with 
little  change,  in  comparison  with  the  alterations  of  Euro- 
pean dialects. 

EGYPT. 

The  country  lying  upon  the  river  Nile,  from  the  middle 
of  its  course  to  its  mouth,  in  the  north  of  Africa  is  known 
by  the  name  of  Egypt.  The  word  used  in  the  OH  Testa- 
ment, and  which  is  translated  Egypt,  is  Mizrahn,  (Gen.  x. 
6,)  after  the  second  son  of  Ham.  (Isa.  xix.)  The  ancient 
name  of  the  land  was  Hain.  (Ps.  Ixxviii.  51.  cv.  23,  27, 
cvi.  22.)  In  the  poetical  parts  of  the  Bible  it  is  sometimes 
called  Rahab.  (Isa.  li.  9,  Ps.  Ixxxvii.  4,  Ixxxix.  10.)  The 
modern  Arabic  name  Missr  is  evidently  an  abbreviation  of 
the  Hebrew  Mizrahn. 

Extent  and  boundaries.  Egypt  may  be  viewed  as  the 
great  valley  of  the  Nile,  lying  nearly  north  and  south,  and 
hemmed  in  on  the  east  and  west  by  chains  of  mountains, 
F 


62  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

which  are  sometimes  near  the  river,  and  sometimes 
distant.  This  valley,  however,  does  not  reach  as  far  as 
the  Mediterranean,  but  ends  where  the  river  is  divided 
into  several  branches,  which  embrace  the  Delta,  the  most 
fertile  part  of  Lower  Egypt.  These  branches  shoot  out 
north-east  and  north-west,  and  the  country  included  forms 
a  triangle,  whence  it  was  called  the  Delta  from  the  Greek 
letter  which  has  that  shape.  The  northern  and  southern 
limits  of  Egypt  are  given  by  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  (ch. 
xxix.  10,  XXX.  6,) — from  the  tower  of  Syene  even  to  the  border 
of  Cush,  or  as  it  may  be  read,  from  Migdol  (tower,)  to 
Syene ;  meaning  in  either  case,  the  whole  length  of  the 
country.  Syene  is  in  latitude  24°  0'  45",  and  Alexandria 
31°  11'  33",  making  the  length  500  miles.  On  account 
of  the  windings  of  the  Nile,  the  valley  is  600  miles  long. 
To  the  east  of  the  Delta,  on  the  borders  of  Palestine  and 
Arabia  Petreea,  is  the  Desert  of  Shur,  (Gen.  xvi.  7,  xx.  1. 
XXV.  18,  Ex.  XV.  22,)  now  called  Djofar. 

The  country  about  the  cataracts  of  the  Nile,  (Syene)  on 
the  south  of  Egypt,  has  a  picturesque  appearance ;  but  Lower 
Egypt,  especially  the  Delta,  is  flat  and  uninteresting.  The 
skies  present  always  the  same  cloudless  and  unvarying  ap- 
pearance. 

The  Nile  is  the  only  river  of  Egypt,  and  was  called  by 
way  of  pre-eminence.  The  River.  (Gen.  xli.  1.)  It  is  some- 
times called  Sihor  or  Shihor.  (Isa.  xxiii.  3,  1  Chron.  xiii. 
5.)  The  true  source  of  the  Nile  has  been  made  the  sub- 
ject of  so  much  dispute,  that  it  will  be  enough  to  say,  that 
its  principal  tributary  is  the  Abiad  or  White  river,  which 
rises  near  the  equator,  in  the  mountains  of  the  moon,  and 
falls  into  the  Nile  about  the  16th  degree  of  north  latitude. 
According  to  Bruce,  the  real  springs  of  the  Nile  are  in  Sa- 
calo,  a  province  of  Abyssinia.  This  great  river  flows  1200 
miles  without  the  addition  of  a  single  stream. 

The  Egyptians  might  justly  prize  such  a  river,  upon 
which  their  very  existence  was  made  to  depend  ;  for  in 
this  land  where  rain  is  almost  unknown,  the  overflowing 
of  the  Nile  is  absolutely  necessary  to  all  vegetation.  Its 
water,  after  being  filtered,  is  acknowledged  by  all  travellers, 
ancient  and  modern,  to  be  peculiarly  sweet  and  even  de- 
licious. (Jer.  ii.  18.)  We  may  from  these  circumstances 
form  some  idea  of  the  nature  of  that  afflictive  judgment  by 
which  the  waters  were  turned  into  blood.  (Ex.  vii.  17.> 


EGYPT.  68 

In  the  beginning  of  June  the  Nile  begins  to  rise  in  its 
southern  parts,  and  continues  to  become  higher,  without 
overflowing  its  banks  until  the  end  of  July  ;  but  from  the 
beginning  of  August  until  the  end  of  September  the  whole 
land  is  generally  under  water.  From  the  middle  of  August 
until  the  end  of  October,  the  valley  may  be  said  to  resemble 
a  sea.  (Amos  viii.  8,  ix.  5.)  The  rich  earth  and  vegetable 
remains  which  are  thus  spread  over  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  when  the  inundation  ceases,  added  to  the  refresh- 
ing moisture  which  continues,  fertilize  the  soil  in  a  manner 
which  no  artificial  means  could  imitate.  By  canals  and 
trenches  and  other  means,  the  whole  adjacent  regions  re- 
ceive the  benefit  of  these  floods.  The  water  w^as  in  cer- 
tain cases  directed  in  some  unknown  way  by  the  foot  of 
the  husbandman.  (Deut.  xi.  10.)  The  history  of  Egypt 
abounds  with  records  of  distress  and  famine,  caused  by  the 
failure  of  this  inundation  ;  and  the  prophets  denounced  this 
as  a  punishment  upon  that  wicked  nation.  (Isa.  xix.  56, 
Ezek.  XXX.  12.) 

The  climate  and  fertility  of  Egypt  demand  some  consi- 
deration. In  a  country  so  extended,  variety  of  temperature 
must  be  expected.  In  Upper  Egypt  the  heat  is  often  as  great 
as  it  is  under  the  equator.  In  Lower  Egypt  the  climate  is 
more  temperate.  Throughout  the  year  the  nightly  dew  is  so 
heavy,  as  to  resemble  gentle  rain.  In  summer  many  dis- 
eases prevail ;  and  of  old  there  were  some  of  a  dreadful 
nature,  peculiar  to  this  land.  (Deut.  xxviii.  27.)  The  fer- 
tility of  Egypt  was  celebrated  among  ancient  nations,  and 
at  the  present  day,  there  is  no  country  more  amply  sup- 
plied with  grain,  fruits,  and  garden-plants.  In  Lower 
Egypt  are  oranges,  lemons,  figs,  dates,  almonds,  and  plan- 
tains in  great  plenty.  Flax  continues  to  be  cultivated. 
(Ex.  ix.  31.)  Egyptian  cotton  is  well  known  in  the  com- 
mercial world.  Maize  or  Indian  corn,  melons  of  various 
sorts,  and  grapes  are  also  abundant. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  DIVISIONS. 

At  a  very  early  period  Egypt  was  divided,  either  into 
two,  or  three  parts ;  viz.  into  Upper  and  Lower  Egypt,  or 
Upper  Egypt,  (Thebais,)  and  Middle  Egypt,  (Heptanomis, 
Heptapolis,)  and  Lower  Egypt,  including  the  Delta  and  ad- 
joining provinces.  We  shall  speak  of  three  divisions,  be- 
ginning at  the  north. 


64  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


I.  LOWER  EGYPT.       . 

(I.)  THE  EASTERN  PART  OF  LOWER  EGYPT,  AS  FAR  AS 
THE  DELTA. 

1.  The  desert  of  Shur.  This  barren  and  sandy  tract  lay 
upon  the  south-west  of  Palestine,  between  the  Mediterra- 
nean and  the  Red  sea,  as  far  as  Pelusium,  and  is  called  by 
the  Arabs  El-Djefar.  To  this  region  Hagar  attempted  to  fly. 
(Gen.  xvi.  7.)  Etham,  {^um.  xxxiii.  8,)  was  probably  the 
southern  part  of  this  desert.  It  is  frequently  noticed  in  the 
Bible.  (Gen.  xx.  1,  xxv.  18,  1  Sam.  xv.  7,  xxvii.  8.) 

2.  Sin  is  called  the  strength  of  Egypt,  Ezek.  xxx.  15, 
16.  This  place  was  the  Pelusium  of  the  Greeks,  and  the 
Farama  of  the  moderns.  It  was  the  bulwark  of  Egypt 
upon  the  east.  Its  ruins  were  discovered  by  the  French, 
when  they  invaded  Egypt  under  Napoleon. 

3.  Goshen  was  the  district  which  Joseph  allotted  to  his 
father  and  his  brethren ;  (Gen.  xlv.  10,  xlvi.  28,  29,  34, 
xlvii.  1,  4,  27,  1.  8 ;)  and  was  situated,  as  nearly  as  we  can 
learn,  north  of  Pelusium,  south-west  of  the  desert  of  Shur, 
and  on  the  east  of  the  most  easterly  branch  of  the  Nile.  It 
was  a  district  of  the  land  of  Rameses,  (Gen.  xlvii.  11,) 
which  was  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  Egypt.  Although 
this  was  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Nile,  yet  it  was  for  the 
purposes  of  shepherds,  who  wandered  with  their  flocks,  the 
best  of  the  land.    (Gen.  xlvii.  6,  11.) 

4.  Raamses  and  Pithom,  were  the  treasure-cities,  (Ex. 
i.  11,)  built  by  the  Israelites  during  their  slavery.  Of  these 
there  are  no  remains,  and  no  credible  history. 

5.  Phibeseth  is  named  by  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  (xxx.  17,) 
among  the  cities  which  should  be  destroyed  by  Babylon. 
It  is  the  same  with  the  Bubastis  of  the  Greeks,  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  of  African  cities.  The  French  travellers 
have  described  its  ruins  as  vast  and  splendid. 

6.  On.  This  name  signified  in  the  language  of  Egypt 
Light,  and  the  Sun,  and  it  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Heli' 


EGYPT.  65 

opolis,  City  of  the  Sun,  and  by  the  KehTevrs  Beth- Shemesh, 
a  word  of  the  same  meaning.  It  was  east  of  the  Nile, 
about  five  miles  from  the  modern  Cairo.  (Jer.  xliii.  13.) 
The  father-in-law  of  Joseph,  was  a  priest  of  On,  (Gen.  xli. 
45,)  that  is,  doubtless,  a  priest  of  the  Sun.  The  city  is  now- 
destroyed,  according  to  the  prophecy  above-cited,  yet  some 
of  its  obelisks  and  columns  are  preserved  at  Rome, 

(II.)  THE  DELTA. 

1.  Tahaphanes  or  Tehaphnehes,  (Jer.  ii.  16,  xliii.  7 — 9, 
xliv.  1,  xlvi.  14,  Ezek.  xxx.  18,)  called  also  Tahpanhes,  is 
the  city  which  the  Greeks  knew  by  the  name  of  Daphne, 
Its  situation  was  near  Sin  or  Pelusium.  To  this  place  the 
Jews  resorted  after  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem  by  the 
Chaldeans,  taking  with  them  the  prophet  Jeremiah.  (Jer. 
xliii.  7 — 9,  xliv.  1.)  Here  the  king  of  Egypt  had  a  palace; 
(ver.  9 ;)  and  the  place  seems  to  have  been  distinguished. 
(Ezek.  xxx.  18.) 

2.  Zoan.  One  of  the  oldest  cities  in  the  world,  (Num. 
xiii.  22,)  having  been  built  only  seven  years  later  than 
Hebron.  The  name  in  Greek  was  Tunis,  and  it  stood 
upon  the  eastern  side  of  the  Tanitic  arm  of  the  Nile.  It 
was  long  the  residence  of  a  line  of  kings.  (Isa.  xix.  11 — 13. 
xxx.  4.)  Indeed  it  seems  to  have  been  the  place  where 
Moses  wrought  miracles  in  the  presence  of  Pharaoh.  (Ps. 
Ixxviii.  12,  43.)  The  ruins  of  Zoan,  are  called  ^San  by  the 
Arabs.  Many  columns  and  obelisks,  covered  with  hiero- 
glyphics are  still  visible. 

(III.)  LOWER  EGYPT  WEST  OF  THE  DELTA. 

The  western  arm  of  the  Nile  was  called  Lybia  and  sepa- 
rated the  country  of  the  same  name  from  Egypt.  Of  its 
numerous  cities,  the  ruins  of  which  may  still  be  seen,  the 
only  one  mentioned  in  the  Bible  is — 

Alexandria.  This  place  is  famous  in  profane  history,  but 
is  merely  named,  in  passing,  by  the  evangelist  Luke. 
Among  the  opposers  of  the  martyr  Stephen,  (Acts  vi.  9,) 
some  were  Alexandrians.  Apollos,  was  a  Jew  of  Alexan- 
dria, (xviii.  24,)  and  it  was  in  a  ship  of  Alexandria  (xxvii. 
6,)  that  the  apostle  Paul  sailed  from  Asia  Minor  to  Italy. 
F  2 


m 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


This  city  was  founded  by  Alexander  the  Great,  about  333 
years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  upon  a  small  strip  of  land, 
between  the  sea  of  Mareotis  and  the  Mediterranean.  It 
was  long  the  regal  capital  of  the  Ptolemies,  and  was  cele- 
brated as  well  for  its  learning  as  its  commerce.  Further 
details  would  serve  no  useful  purpose  in  the  interpretation 
of  the  Scriptures.  It  is  125  miles  north-west  of  Cairo,  and 
"  is  reckoned  to  have  about  14,000  or  15,000  inhabitants."* 

II.  MIDDLE  EGYPT,  (now  WOSTANI.) 

1.  Memphis,  called  also  Noph,  (Ezek.  xxx.  13,  16,)  stood 
about  15  miles  above  the  site  of  Old  Cairo,  upon  the  Nile. 
It  was  built  in  the  early  ages  of  Egypt,  and  was  the  me- 
tropolis of  Middle  Egypt.  According  to  ancient  historians 
it  was  150  furlongs  in  circumference,  yet  fell  beneath  the 
judgments  of  the  Almighty,  (Isa.  xix.  13,  Jer.  ii.  16,)  and 
is  now  a  pile  of  ruins.    Lat.  30°  18'  north. 

2.  Hanes.  The  prophet  Isaiah  laments  in  a  certain 
place  (xxx.  4,)  that  Jewish  ambassadors  had  gone  to  Hanes; 
from  which  we  infer  that  this  was  one  of  the  seats  of  go- 
vernment in  those  days.  It  is  supposed  to  be  the  Great 
Herakleopolis  of  the  Greeks.  This  city  was  south  of  Mem- 
phis, upon  an  island  in  the  Nile.  A  few  of  its  remains 
exist  at  present. 

III.   UPPER  EGYPT. 

The  southern  division  of  Egypt  was  called  by  the  He- 
brews Pathros,  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans  Thebais,  and  by 
the  Arabs  Said,  In  the  genealogy  of  the  nations  (Gen.  x. 
14,)  the  Pathrusim  are  stated  to  be  descendants  of  Mizraim. 
Isaiah  and  Jeremiah  distinguish  this  from  Egypt  Proper ; 
(Isa.  xi.  11 ;)  so  did  also  the  Greeks  and  Romans.  Judg- 
ments are  pronounced  against  it  by  Ezekiel,  (xxx.  14.) 
In  the  Scriptures,  two  places  of  Upper  Egypt  are  men- 
tioned: viz. 

1.  No,  or  Amon-no,  is  supposed  to  be  the  celebrated  city 
of  Thebes.     The  Egyptians  considered  this  as  the  oldest 

*  Darby 


EGYPT.  67 

city  upon  earth.  It  was  originally  built  upon  the  eastern 
bank  of  the  INile,  but  in  later  times  extended  itself  on  the 
western.  To  this  the  prophet  Nahum  makes  a  striking 
allusion,  (ch.  iii.  6.)  It  was  likewise  probably  begirt  with 
many  canals.  Thebes  was  the  capital  of  Upper  Egypt,  and 
was  styled  the  city  of  a  hundred  gates.  For  a  minute  ac- 
count of  its  ruins,  see  the  journal  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jowett, 
Feb.  1819. 

2.  Syene  has  already  been  named  as  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  Egypt.  (Ezek.  xxix.  10,  xxx.  6.)  It  was  built  upon 
a  peninsula  of  the  Nile,  about  the  spot  where  the  modern 
Aswan  stands.  (See  p.  62. 

The  history  of  Egypt  is  so  intimately  connected  with 
that  of  the  Hebrews,  that  a  few  words  upon  this  subject 
will  not  be  misplaced.  After  being  founded,  as  has  been 
already  stated,  by  Mizraim,  Egypt  weis  governed  by  its 
own  princes  for  about  a  hundred  years,  when  it  was  con- 
quered by  the  Shepherds,  or  Cushites,  from  Arabia  or  Chal- 
dea,  and  who,  after  remaining  in  power  about  2G0  years, 
were  driven  out  by  Amosis.  The  Pharaoh  whose  name 
occurs  in  the  history  of  Abraham  was  probably  one  of  these 
Shepherd  kings.  Joseph  was  brought  as  a  slave  into  Egypt 
only  a  few  years  after  the  expulsion  of  this  race.  The 
kings  of  Egypt  were  all  known  by  the  name  of  Pharaoh, 
but  we  are  not  able  to  give  the  additional  name  of  the  mo- 
narch who  was  destroyed  in  the  Red  sea.  His  successor 
is  thought  to  have  been  the  famous  Sesostris.  Solomon 
married  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  Pharaohs.  During  the 
reign  of  Rehoboam,  Palestine  was  invaded  by  Shishak, 
king  of  Egypt,  who  took  Jerusalem  and  despoiled  the  tem- 
ple. (2  Chron.  xii.)  In  the  time  of  Hezekiah,  Sebachon, 
or  So,  king  of  Ethiopia,  extended  his  dominion  over  Egypt, 
and  afterwards  became  an  ally  of  Hoshea,  king  of  Israel. 
(•2  Kings  xvii.  4.)  Sennacherib  invaded  Egypt  during  the 
reign  of  Sevechus,  the  son  of  So.  Psammetichus  was  the 
next  king,  after  an  inter-regnum  of  a  few  years,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Nechus,  or  Pharaoh-Necho,  who  invaded 
Assyria,  took  captive  to  Egypt  Jehoahaz  king  of  Judah, 
and  laid  a  tribute  upon  the  Jews.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  2  Chron. 
XXXV.)     Not  many  years  after  Egypt  was  subdued  by  Ne- 


68  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

buchadnezzar ;  and  "  the  king  of  Egypt  came  not  any  more 
out  of  his  own  land."  (2  Kings  xxiv.  7.)  About  536  years 
before  Christ,  Cyrus,  having  taken  Babylon,  conducted  his 
army  into  Egypt,  but  the  total  overthrow  of  its  power  and 
independence  was  accomplished  by  his  son  Cambyses, 
525  years  before  Christ,  according  to  the  numerous  pro- 
phecies against  this  wicked  kingdom.  (Jer.  xliv.  30,  xlvi. 
25,  26,  Ezek.  xxix.  xxx.  13 — 15,  Isa.  xix.)  Egypt  was 
now  a  Persian  province,  but  was  with  great  difficulty  kept 
in  subjection.  Alexander  the  Great  (332  B.  C.)  became 
the  ruler  of  Egypt,  being  received  rather  as  a  deliverer, 
than  a  conqueror.  After  Alexander's  death  the  kings  of 
Egypt  were  the  celebrated  Ptolemies,  who  reigned  in  suc- 
cession until  about  thirty  years  before  the  nativity  of  Christ, 
at  which  time  Egypt  became  a  Roman  province. 

The  Pyramids  of  Egypt  are  not  mentioned  in  the  Bible, 
which  could  scarcely  be  the  case  if,  as  some  imagine,  they 
were  erected  by  the  children  of  Israel. 

The  language  of  ancient  Egypt  was  essentially  different 
from  all  those  spoken  in  Asia,  as  is  evident  from  the  re- 
mains of  it  in  the  Coptic.  The  latter  has  been  a  dead 
language  since  the  eighth  century,  and  the  Copts  of  modern 
Egypt  speak  the  Arabic.  There  are,  however,  some  Cop- 
tic works  in  existence ;  and  among  the  rest,  translations  of 
the  Bible. 

ETHIOPIA. 

The  Ethiopians  of  Arabia  have  been  already  mentioned ; 
we  come  now  to  speak  of  Ethiopia  Proper,  a  country  south 
of  Egypt,  extending  further  southward  to  unknown  limits. 
It  joined  Egypt  somewhere  about  the  smaller  cataract  of 
the  Nile,  and  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Red  sea  and 
Indian  ocean,  and  on  the  west  by  Lybia  and  regions  un- 
known. It  may  be  said  to  have  embraced  what  are  now 
called  Nubia  and  Abyssinia.  It  was  a  mountainous  and 
well-watered  country  ;  hence  we  read  of  the  rivers  of  Ethi- 
opia,  (Zephan.  iii.  10,  Isa.  xviii.  2.)  The  river  Astaboras, 
or  Atabara  was  thought  by  Bruce  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
rivers  of  the  earth.     The  banks  of  the  Nile  abound  with 


NORTH    AFRICA. 


the  papyrus  or  reed  of  which  paper  was  first  made  ;  these 
are  the  bulrushes  mentioned,  Isa.  xviii.  2,  and  are  still  in 
use  for  the  purpose  of  making  boats  or  rafts. 

The  northern  part  of  Ethiopia  or  Nubia  is  a  sort  of  island 
formed  by  the  Nile  and  the  rivers  Astabus  and  Astaboras. 
This  was  called  by  the  Hebrews  Seba,  (Isa.  xliii.  3,)  and 
by  the  Romans  Meroe.  The  eldest  son  of  Cush,  (Gen.  x. 
7,)  was  Seba,  which  name  was  given  to  this  land,  a  rich 
and  commercial  country.  (Ps.  Ixxii.  10.)  The  inhabitants 
are  said  by  Isaiah  (xlv.  14,)  to  be  men  of  stature ;  and  this 
agrees  exactly  with  the  words  of  the  oldest  Greek  histo- 
rian—" they  are  said  to  be  the  tallest  of  men."* 

Chub  was  the  name  of  a  nation,  noticed  by  the  prophet 
Ezekiel,  (xxx.  5,)  among  other  African  tribes.  They  are 
generally  said  to  have  dwelt  in  Nubia. 

The  Sukkihns,  (2  Chron.  xii.  3,)  who  accompanied  Shi- 
shak  in  his  invasion  of  Judea,  were  probably  a  tribe  of 
Ethiopians,  from  the  western  coast  of  the  Red  sea. 

The  Ethiopian  queen,  Candace,  whose  treasurer  (Acts 
viii.  27,)  was  baptized  by  Philip,  was  a  princess  of  Meroe, 
where  women  held  the  sovereign  power.  ''  The  spies  of 
Nero,"  says  a  Roman  historian,  "  brought  intelligence  that 
a  female  reigned  in  Meroe,  whose  name  was  Candace, 
which  name  has  been  common  to  their  queens  for  many 

years."t  /.  i      *     v 

The  Ethiopic  language  is  a  dialect  of  the  Arabic. 
Of  the  history  of  Ethiopia,  as  distinct  from  that  of  Egypt, 

very  little  is  known,  and  nothing  which  has  any  important 

connexion  with  the  people  of  Israel. 

VORTH  AFXaCA. 

It  is  not  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  some  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Mizraim  mentioned  in  the  genealogical  list, 
(Gen.  X.  13,  14,)  were  the  origin  of  those  nations  who 
dwelt  in  northern  Africa,  west  of  Egypt.  This  opinion  is 
rendered  more  probable  by  the  remarkable  co-incidence  of 
names. 

*  Herodotus,  B.  iu.  ch.  20.         t  Pliny,  Nat.  Hist.  B.  v.  cb.  29. 


70  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

1.  The  Lehabim,  whom  we  take  to  be  the  same  with 
the  Ltibim.  (Nah.  iii.  9,  2  Chron.  xii.  3,  xvi.  8,  Dan.  xi. 
43.)  From  the  very  name  we  are  led  at  once  to  think  of 
the  Lybians,  especially  as  they  are  constantly  named  in  con- 
nexion with  the  Egyptians.  The  Greeks  and  Romans 
called  all  the  coast  Lybia,  which  lay  between  Egypt  and 
Carthage. 

2.  The  Ludim  or  Lydians,  are  spoken  of  by  Isaiah, 
(Ixvi.  19,)  as  good  archers;  and  by  Jeremiah  and  Ezekiel 
as  allies  of  Tyre  and  Egypt  (Jer.  xlvi.  9,  Ezek.  xxvii.  10, 
XXX.  5.)  They  must  be  distinguished  from  the  Lydians 
of  Asia,  who  descended  from  Shem.  (See  p.  32.)  AH  at- 
tempts to  fix  the  exact  place  of  their  dwelling  are  fruitless. 

3.  The  Casluhim  are  almost  universally  granted  to  be 
the  Colchians,  who  emigrated  from  Africa  to  the  coast  of 
the  Black  sea. 

4.  Put  or  Phut  was  the  third  son  of  Ham.  (Gen.  x.  6.) 
Cush  and  Phut  are  almost  always  connected,  and  although 
called  Lybians  in  our  translation,  the  Hebrew  names  are 
distinct.  (Jer.  xlvi.  9,  Ezek.  xxx.  5,  xxxviii.  5,  Nah.  iii. 
9.)  By  this  name  were  called  the  people  since  known  as 
Mauritanians  or  Moors.  They  were  hireling  soldiers  of 
the  Egyptians  and  Tyrians,  (Jer.  xlvi.  9,  Ezek.  xxvii.  10, 
xxxviii.  5,)  and  proved  themselves  to  be  genuine  warriors 
in  many  engagements  with  the  Romans  and  Carthaginians. 

5.  Pul  (Isa.  Ixvi.  19,)  is  considered  to  be  the  island  Phi- 
lae,  in  the  Nile,  between  Egypt  and  Ethiopia. 

6.  Cyrene  is  the  name  of  a  country,  as  well  as  of  its 
chief  city.  It  was  called  likewise  Cyrenaica  and  Pentapo- 
lis,  and  the  capital  was  situated  in  a  fertile  region  about 
500  miles  west  of  Alexandria.  Great  numbers  of  Jews  re- 
sided here.  A  certain  Simon,  a  Jew  of  Cyrene,  was  the 
person  who  bore  our  Saviour's  cross  to  the  place  of  his 
death.  (Matt,  xxvii.  32,  Mark  xv.  21,  Luke  xxiii.  26.) 
Some  of  the  Cyrenians  are  mentioned,  (Acts  xi.  20,)  among 
the  earliest  Christians.  Lucius  of  Cyrene  (xiii.  1,)  appears 
as  a  preacher  at  Antioch.  This  country  now  belongs  to 
Tripoli. 


(71) 


COXTNTRZES  IXTEST   OF  PAZ.ESTZKE. 

We  read  in  the  Bible  of  the  islands  of  the  sea,  and  the 
isles  that  are  in  the  sea.  (Isa.  xi.  11,  xxiv.  15,  Ezek.  xxvi. 
18.)  By  these  terms  we  are  to  understand,  not  islands  only, 
but  all  places  which  were  reached  by  sea,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  3, 
Esth.  X.  1,  Isa.  XX.  6,)  and  especially  the  regions  west  of 
Palestine,  whether  islands  or  not.  These  countries  they 
called,  in  a  general  way,  Tlie  West;  for  thus  the  word  l^ea  in 
the  verses  cited  above  may  be  understood ;  as  it  is  known 
that  the  Hebrews  had  the  same  word  for  the  sea  and  the 
west,  on  account  of  their  position  with  respect  to  the  Me- 
diterranean. ^ 

I.  ISLANDS  OF  THE  EGEAN  SEA. 

1.  Samothracia,  (now  Samandrachi,)  is  a  small  island  of 
the  Archipelago,  near  the  coast  of  Romania,  and  north  of 
the  isle  of  Imbro.  It  is  17  miles  in  circumference.  The 
apostle  Paul  passed  it  on  his  way  from  Troas  to  Macedonia. 
(Acts  xvi.  11.)  It  is  now  chiefly  inhabited  by  fishermen. 

2.  Lesbos,  now  Mitylene ;  from  its  ancient  capital  of  that 
name  which  was  visited  by  the  apostle  Paul  on  his  way 
from  Ephesus  to  Macedonia.  (Acts  xx.  14.)  Some  remains 
of  the  old  city  are  found  near  Castro  the  principal  place. 
Population  :  from  2,000  to  3,000  Greeks,  4,000  Turks  and 
some  Jews.  ''  ^      % 

3.  Chios,  now  called  Scio,  is  also  mentioned  in  the  apos- 
tle's voyage,  (Acts  jfx.  15.)  It  is  a  mountainous  island  about 
32  miles  long,  and  1^5  broad,  situated  north-west  of  Samos. 
The  chief  production  of  the  island  is  the  mastich.  Scio 
was  a  few  years  ago  supposed  to  contain  110,000  inhabit- 
ants, but  in  1822  the  Turks  massacred,  or  led  into  slavery 
at  least  30,000  persons. 

4.  Samos,  the  native  place  of  Pythogoras,  is  on  the  coast 
of  Natolia,  32  miles  long  and  22  broad.  The  inhabitants, 
who  are  mostly  Greeks,  amount  to  12,000.  It  was  visited 
by  the  apostle  Paul.  (Acts  xx.  15.) 


72  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

5.  Patmos  (now  Patimo  or  Patmosa,)  is  a  small  island 
between  Samos  and  Naxos,  20  miles  in  circumference.  The 
Romans  used  this  barren  spot  as  a  place  of  exile  for  con-s^ 
victs ;  and  here  the  apostle  John  was  sent,  on  account  of  his 
testimony  to  the  truth ;  and  here  he  wrote  the  Apocalypse,  or 
Revelation,  (ch.  i.  9.)  A  cavern  is  still  shown  to  travellers, 
which  is  said  to  have  been  the  retreat  of  the  apostle. 

6.  Coos  or  Cos,  (now  Stanchio,)  lies  12  miles  north-east 
of  Stampalio,  and  40  north-west  of  Rhodes ;  is  23  miles 
long  and  ten  broad.  This  was  the  native  place  of  Hippo- 
crates the  Physician,  and  Apelles  the  Painter.  The  apos- 
tle Paul  came  to  Coos  on  his  way  from  Asia  Minor  to  Je- 
rusalem.  (Acts  X3^  1.) 

8.  Rhodes  is  40  miles  long,  and  15  broad,  and  is  situated 
at  the  south-western  point  of  Asia  Minor,  at  the  entrance 
of  the  Gulf  of  Macri.  It  is  supposed  to  have  derived  its 
name  from  the  Rhodanim  or  Dodanim,  (Gen.  x.  4,)  de- 
scendants of  Japheth.  The  apostle  Paul  touched  at  this 
island,  (Acts  xxi.  1,)  on  his  way  from  Miletus  to  Jerusalem. 
The  Greek  population  of  Rhodes  is  about  18,000.  The 
number  of  Jews  is  about  1000. 

9.  Cyprus  is  a  large  island  of  the  Mediterranean,  about 
200  miles  in  length,  and  60  at  its  greatest  breadth.  This 
is  by  many  scholars  supposed  to  be  the  Chittim  or  Kittim  of 
the  Bible.  (Dan.  xi.  30.)  It  was  probably  iirst  peopled  by 
these  descendants  of  Javan,  (Gen.  x.  4,)  but  we  cannot  with 
propriety  restrict  this  word  to  a  single  island.  '•  The  land 
of  Chittim,  and  the  isles  of  Chittim  denote,  in  general,  the 
maritime  countries  and  islands  of  the  Mediterranean, 
Greece,  Italy,  Crete,  Cyprus,  Corsica,  '^c.  Thus  Balaam 
foretold,  (Num.  xxiv.  24,)  that  '  ships  should  come  from 
the  coast  of  Chittim,  and  should  afflict  Asshur,  (the  Assyri- 
ans,) and  afflict  Eber ;'  (the  Hebrews ;)  representing  the 
Grecian  and  Roman  invasions."* 

Cyprus  is  a  rich  and  fertile  island,  long  celebrated  for  its 
wines.  In  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  (iv.  36,)  we  read  of  a 
certain  Joses,  a  native  of  Cyprus,  who  devoted  all  his  pro- 
perty to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  was  afterwards  known  by 

♦  Home's  latroduction,  Vol.  iii.  p.  524. — Littell's  edit. 


COUNTRIES  WEST  OP  PALESTINE.  73 

the  name  of  Barnabas.  The  persecuted  Christians,  (xi.  19,) 
resorted  to  this  island,  and  Paul  and  Barnabas  landed  here, 
after  sailing  from  Seleucia.   (Acts  xiii.  4.) 

Salamis,  on  the  eastern  coast,  was  the  principal  city.  No 
remains  of  this  are  now  visible. 

Paphos,  a  city  on  the  south-western  coast,  also  visited 
by  these  early  missionaries,  (xiii.  6,)  is  now  called  Pafo  or 
Bqfa. 

Cyprus  has  been,  since  the  commencement  of  the  Greek 
revolution,  the  scene  of  innumerable  barbarities ;  25,000 
Greeks  were  massacred  in  Paphos  and  adjacent  towns.  Se- 
venty-four villages,  containing  18,000  Christians  have  been 
destroyed  by  the  Turks. 

10.  Crete  or  Candia  is  a  large  island  to  the  south  of  the 
Archipelago,  200  miles  in  length  and  50  in  breadth,  and 
500  miles  south-west  of  Constantinople.  The  climate  is 
delightful ;  the  sky  always  unclouded  and  serene ;  the 
V,  inds  mild,  and  refreshing  breezes.  This  is  by  some  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Caphtor  of  the  Hebrews.  (Gen.  x.  14.) 
In  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles  Salmone  is  mentioned,  (xxvii. 
7,)  as  a  place  touched  at  by  the  apostle  Paiil,  and  is  the 
eastern  cape  of  the  island.  T%e  Fair  Havens  and  city  of 
Lasea,  (ver.  8,)  were  on  the  south-western  coast.  The 
haven  of  Phenice  was  on  the  western  part  of  this  coast. 
The  wind  Euroclydon  (ver.  14,)  or  eastern  tempest  is  the 
wind  called  by  seamen  the  Levanter. 

The  little  island  called  Clauda,  (now  Gozzo,)  lies  south 
of  the  western  end  of  Crete.  This  was  the  residence  of 
Titus,  who  was  left  by  the  apostle  Paul,  (Tit.  i.  5,)  to  "  set 
in  order  the  things  that  were  wanting,  and  ordain  elders  in 
every  city."  The  Cretans  were  famous  among  the  Greeks 
for  deceit,  falsehood,  and  low  cunning ;  in  confirmation  of 
which  the  apostle  cites  Epimenides,  one  of  their  own  poets. 
(Tit.  i.  12,  13.) 

II.    GREECE. 

It  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  design  of  this  work, 
to  go  far  into  the  description  of  Greece  and  Rome.  These 
countries,  while  they  are  celebrated  in  profane  history  have 
but  a  secondary  place  in  the  geography  of  the  Bible.  The 
Greece  of  the  Old  Testament  is  not  exactly  the  same  with 
G 


74  OEOORAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

the  Greece  of  the  New  :  by  the  former  was  meant  Mace- 
donia, Epirus,  Greece  Proper,  and  the  Morea ;  by  the  lat- 
ter, the  last  two  alone. 

Cheece  or  Grecia  was  known  by  the  name  of  Javan 
among  the  Hebrews.  In  our  English  Bible,  the  latter  word 
is  sometimes  used,  (Isa.  Ixvi.  19,  Ezek.  xxvii.  13,)  and 
sometimes  the  modern  name  Greece.  (Zech.  ix.  13,  Dan. 
viii.  21,  Joel  iii.  6.)  Javan  was  (Gen.  x.  2,)  the  fourth 
son  of  Japheth.  The  following  places  of  Greece  are 
named  in  the  Scriptures : — 

1.  Macedonia,  which  was  included  under  the  name  Kit- 
tim,  (see  p.  72,)  was  at  the  time  when  it  was  visited  by 
Paul,  a  Roman  province,  bounded  on  the  north  by  Dar- 
dania  and  Moesia ;  east  by  Thrace ;  west  by  Illyria ;  and 
south  by  Thessaly  and  Epirus. 

Christianity  was  planted  in  this  province  by  the  apostle 
Paul  himself,  and  several  of  its  cities  are  mentioned  in  the 
Acts  and  Epistles. 

Nicopolis,  (now  Nikopi,)  was  upon  the  river  Nessus, 
(now  Karasu,)  which  divided  Macedonia  from  Thrace. 
From  this  place  the  epistle  to  Titus  (iii.  12,)  was  written. 

Philippi  was  a  city  of  Macedonia  Prima,  or  the  first 
part  of  Macedonia,  for  so  Mr.  Home  understands  the  words 
which  are  translated  (Acts  xvi.  12,)  the  chief  city  of  that 
part  of  Macedonia.  It  received  its  name  from  Philip  king 
of  Macedon,  and  stood  near  the  Egean  sea  on  the  river 
Strymon.  Julius  Caesar  planted  a  colony  here,  which  was 
afterwards  enlarged  by  Augustus,  so  that  the  Philippians 
were  Roman  citizens.  (Acts  xvi.  12.)  The  apostle  Paul 
founded  a  church  here,  to  which  he  also  wrote  an  epistle. 
(Acts  xvi.  1  Thess.  ii.  2,  Philip,  i.  1.)  The  place  is  now 
occupied  by  a  hamlet  called  Filiba. 

Neapolis  was  on  the  coast  of  the  Egean,  near  the  bay  of 
Strymon,  opposite  to  the  isle  of  Thasus,  and  between  Ab- 
dera  and  Philippi.  (Acts  xvi.  11.) 

Amphipolis  was  a  city  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Strymon, 
and  was  at  one  time  the  capital  of  eastern  Macedonia. 
Paul  and  Silas,  (Acts  xvii.  1,)  in  going  to  Thessalonica, 
passed  through  Amphipolis,  as  well  as — 

Apollonia,  which  was  situated  upon  a  jutting  cape  be- 
tween ThessaJoiiica  and  Philippi. 

Thess{:lonica  was,  at  a  more  early  period,  called  ThermcB, 


COUNTRIES  WEST  OF  PALESTINE.  75 

Under  the  Romans  it  was  the  capital  of  one  of  the  four  di- 
visions, and  the  residence  of  the  Praetor.  In  the  days  of 
the  apostle  many  Jews  dwelt  there,  (Acts  xvii.  1,)  some  of 
whom,  together  with  a  number  of  Gentiles  were  converted 
to  Christianity.  (Acts  xvii.  1 — 10,  I  Thess.  i.  5,  ii.  1.) 
This  was  the  native  place  of  Aristarchus  and  Secundus, 
(Acts  XX.  4,  xxvii.  2,)  who  were  companions  of  Paul  in 
his  travels. 

Sal(michi,  as  it  is  now  called,  is  the  great  mart  for  all  the 
neighbouring  countries,  and  after  Constantinople  the  chief 
commercial  city  of  European  Turkey,  and  the  residence  of 
a  Greek  archbishop. 

Berea,  (now  Veria  or  Kara-  Veria,)  is  near  the  celebrated 
Mount  Pindus,  south-west  of  Thessalonica.  Here  an  up- 
roar was  caused  by  the  Jews,  (Acts  xvii.  10 — 15,)  and  here 
Sopater,  the  companion  of  Paul,  (Acts  xx.  4,)  was  born. 

2.  niyricum.  The  apostle  Paul  says  in  his  epistle  to  the 
Romans,  (xv.  19,)  that  he  had  fully  preached  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  as  far  as  lUyricum.  This  name  was  applied  to  a 
country  lying  north-west  of  Macedonia,  and  answering 
nearly  to  the  modern  Dalmatia.  The  southern  part  of 
niyricum  was  the  Dalmatia  to  which  Titus  once  went. 
(2  Tim.  iv.  10.) 

3.  Athens.  To  this  most  celebrated  city  of  ancient 
Greece,  the  apostle  Paul  came,  after  leaving  Berea.  (Acts 
xvii.  10 — 15.)  For  an  account  of  its  power,  its  laws,  its 
literature,  its  arts,  and  its  base  superstition,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  various  histories  of  Greece.  It  is  only  as 
a  place  honoured  by  the  preaching  of  Paul,  that  it  now  de- 
mands our  notice.  Athens  is  situated  on  the  Gulf  of  Engia, 
(ancient  Saronic  Gulf,)  100  miles  north-east  of  Lacedemon, 
and  320  south  by  west  of  Constantinople.  Long.  23°  57' 
east  of  Greenwich.  Lat.  38°  5'  north.  The  Areopagus 
or  Hill  of  Mars,  on  which  the  apostle  preached,  (Acts  xvii. 
19,)  was  a  steep  and  rocky  height  in  the  centre  of  Athens, 
where  a  celebrated  court  was  held,  the  judges  of  which 
were  called  Areopagites ;  Dionysius  (ver.  34,)  was  one  of 
these.     Athens  was  the  capital  of  Attica. 

4.  Achaia^  (Acts  xviii.  12,  Rom.  xvi.  5,  2  Cor.  xi.  10, 
1  Thess,  i.  7,  6,)  in  its  most  limited  sense,  is  taken  for  the 


76  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

region  between  Arcadia  and  the  Gulf  of  Corinth ;  in  a 
more  extended  v<jense  for  what  is  now  called  Livadia,  be- 
tween Thessaly  and  the  Morea ;  and  sometimes  for  Greece 
in  general. 

Corinth  was  the  chief  city  (2  Cor.  i.  1,)  of  Achaia  Pro- 
per, upon  an  isthmus  between  the  Egean  and  Ionian  seas, 
(or  between  the  bays  of  Lepanto  and  Egiua,)  and  was  re- 
markable for  its  splendour,  wealth,  and  voluptuousness. 
In  the  neighbourhood  of  Corinth  the  Isthmian  games  were 
celebrated,  to  which  the  apostle  often  alludes.  Paul  re- 
sided here  eighteen  months,  (Acts  xviii.  1 — 17,)  and  found- 
ed a  church,  to  which  he  afterwards  wrote  two  epistles. 

5.  Elishah,  is  supposed  to  be  a  name  given  to  some  part 
of  Greece,  perhaps  the  Peloponnesus  or  Morea,  or  that  part 
of  it  called  Elis.  It  was  among  the  isles  or  maritime  coun- 
tries (see  p.  71,)  with  which  the  Tyrians  traded.  (Gen.  x. 
4,  Ezek.  xxvii.  7.) 

III.  ITALY. 

In  the  history  of  the  apostle  Paul's  joumeymgs,  we  find 
notices  of  Italy,  (Acts  xvii.  2,  xxvii.  1,  6,)  and  in  his  epis- 
tle to  the  Hebrews,  the  saints  of  Italy  are  said  to  send  their 
salutations  to  the  converted  Israelites,  ch.  xiii.  24.  Al- 
though the  earlier  Hebrews  knew  little  of  this  country, 
yet  in  later  times,  they  acquired  a  melancholy  acquaintance 
with  the  Roman  power ;  for  63  years  before  Christ  Judea 
was  invaded  by  Pompey,  and  became  a  Roman  province. 
After  this  time  many  Jews  resided  in  Italy,  from  which 
they  were  often  banished  upon  slight  grounds.  (Acts  xviii. 
2.)  The  apostle  Paul  is  supposed  to  have  gone  to  Rome 
about  A.  D.  63,  and  to  have  remained  there  two  years. 
(Acts  xxviii.  30,  31.)  He  twice  defended  himself  and  the 
gospel  before  the  Emperor  Nero,  (2  Tim.  iv.  16,  and  post- 
script,) and,  according  to  ancient  tradition,  was  beheaded 
at  Aquae  Salvise,  three  miles  from  Rome,  on  the  29th  of 
June  A.  D.  66. 

Rome  was  the  metropolis  of  the  world  in  the  days  of  the 
apostles.  The  history  of  this  city  is  too  well  known  to  de- 
mand any  account  in  this  place,  and  minute  description 
would  tend  little  to  illustrate  the  Scriptures.   It  is  upon  the 


COUNTRIES  WEST  OF  PALESTINE.  77 

river  Tiber,  in  lat.  4P  54'  N.  and  long,  l^'^  29'  E.  of 
Greenwich. 

Appii-Forum  and  the  Three  Taverns,  were  places  near 
the  city  of  Rome,  through  which  the  apostle  Paul  passed. 
(Acts  xxviii.  15.) 

Puteoli,  (now  Pozzuolo,)  was  a  city  of  Campania,  about 
eight  miles  from  Naples,  in  a  province  now  called  Terra 
di  Lavoro.  In  this  city  Paul  remained  a  week,  on  his 
journey  as  a  prisoner  to  Rome.  (Acts  xxviii.  13.) 

Rfiegium,  (now  Reggio,)  was  a  city  and  port  of  Italy, 
at  its  south-western  point,  in  Calabria,  just  opposite  Mes- 
sina in  Sicily.  Here  the  apostle  remained  one  day.  (Acts 
xxviii.  13.)  In  the  year  1782  this  town  was  destroyed  by 
an  earthquake. 

Syractise.  The  celebrated  capital  of  the  island  of  Sicily, 
on  the  eastern  coast,  was  one  of  the  most  commercial  and 
wealthy  cities  of  antiquity.  The  apostle  Paul  spent  two 
days  here.  (Acts  xxviii.  12.) 

Melita,  now  called  Malta,  is  an  island  between  Sicily 
and  Africa,  about  60  miles  south  of  Sicily,  and  200  east  of 
Tunis.  It  is  memors^le,  as  being  the  place  where  Paul 
suffered  shipwreck,  (Acts  xxviii.  1 — 11,)  and  is  an  import- 
ant station  for  missionaries.  The  printing  of  the  American 
missions  in  the  Mediterranean  is  conducted  at  Malta. 

IV.  SPAIN 

The  apostle  Paul  was  at  one  time  desirous  to  preach  the 
gospel  in  Spain,  (Rom.  xv.  24,)  but  we  are  not  informed 
that  he  ever  visited  that  country. 

It  cannot  be  affirmed  with  any  degree  of  certainty,  that 
Spain  is  mentioned  in  the  Old  Testament.  The  Tarshish 
or  Tharsish  of  the  Scriptures  is  by  many  thought  to  be 
Tartessus  in  Spain,  in  the  modern  province  of  Andalusia. 
Tarshish  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  important  colo- 
nies of  the  Tyrians,  (Isa.  xxiii.  1,  6,  10,)  and  is  mentioned 
with  the  other  western  nations  in  Genesis,  (x.  4.)  It  is 
evident  that  Jonah  (i.  8,  iv.  2,)  intended  to  visit  some  port 
ofthe  Mediterranean,  and  Tartessus  was  probably  the  place. 
Wherever  it  may  have  been  situated,  it  was  a  place  of  ex- 
tensive commerce.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  22,  25,  x xxviii.  13.) 

Tarshish  may  also  have  been  the  name  of  a  country  near 
to  Ophir,  as  the  ships  of  Solomon  were  built  at  Ezion-geber. 
o  2 


78  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE, 

(2  Chron.  xx.  36.)  On  all  these  points,  however,  there  is 
no  certainty  attained,  after  all  the  labours  of  antiquarians. 
(See  Ophir,  p.  60,  61.) 


INDIA. 

India  is  twice  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  and  both  times  in 
speaking  of  the  extensive  realm  of  Ahasuerus.  (Esther  i.  1, 
viii.  9.)  During  the  long  captivity  of  the  children  of  Is- 
rael, they  probably  became  acquainted  with  India,  and  in 
an  early  age  they  made  use  of  some  of  the  productions  of 
Eastern  Asia,  as,  fox  example,  cinnamon.  (Ex.  xxx.  23.) 
The  student  of  the  Bible  would,  however,  derive  no  aid 
from  any  description  of  this  distant  region. 

PAI.i;STINE. 

The  country  inhabited,  for  more  than  fifteen  hundred 
years,  by  the  posterity  of  Jacob,  is  mentioned  in  Scripture, 
and  in  history,  under  a  variety  of  names. 

I.  The  oldest  of  these  is,  the  Land  of  Canaan;  so  called 
from  Canaan,  the  son  of  Ham,  by  whom  it  was  peopled 
after  the  flood,  and  whose  descendants  were  dwelling  in  it 
when  it  was  invaded  by  the  Israelites,  under  Joshua.  (Gen. 
X.  19,  Ex.  vi.  4,  Lev.  xxv.  38,  Ps.  cv.  110.)  This  name 
however,  properly  denoted  only  the  region  lying  between 
the  Mediterranean  and  the  Jordan.  (Gen.  xiii.  9,  Ex.  xvi. 
35,  Num.  xxxiii.  51,  Josh.  v.  10 — 12.)  Besides  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Israelites,  it  included  Phenicia  on  the  north,  and 
Philistia  on  the  south.  (Zeph.  ii.  5.) 

II.  After  the  conquest  of  the  country  by  the  descendants 
of  Jacob,  who  was  also  called  Israel,  (Gen.  xxxii.  28,)  it 
received  the  name  of  the  Land  of  Israel.  (1  Sam.  xiii.  19, 
2  Kings  vi.  23,  xiv.  25,  Ezek.  vii.  2,  Matt.  ii.  22,  1  Chron. 
xiii.  2.)  This  name  comprehended,  of  course,  all  their 
territories  on  both  sides  of  the  Jordan. 


PALESTINE.  79 

III.  By  the  prophet  Zechariah,  (ii.  12,)  it  is  called  the 
Holy  Land,  as  being  the  residence  of  God's  peculiar  people; 
the  place  where  his  sanctuary  was  established,  and  his  pre- 
sence visibly  manifested.  This  name  has  now  become  still 
more  applicable  to  the  country,  since  it  was  the  birth-place 
of  the  Saviour,  and  the  scene  of  his  sufferings. 

IV.  In  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  (xi.  9,)  it  is  called 
the  Land  of  Promise,  because  so  often  promised  with  an 
oath  to  Abraham  and  his  posterity.  (Gen.  xii.  7,  xiii.  14, 
xvii.  8,  xxiv.  7,  xxvi.  3,  4,  Ex.  xxxiii.  1,  Num.  xiv. 
16,  30,    xxxii.  11.) 

V.  After  the  return  of  the  children  of  Israel  from  cap- 
tivity in  Babylon,  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  so  decidedly 
pre-eminent  among  the  twelve,  that  the  name.  Land  of 
Judah,  or  Judea,  was  by  degrees  extended  to  the  whole 
territory  of  the  Israelites  on  both  sides  of  the  Jordan.  For 
the  same  reason,  and  about  the  same  time,  the  children  of 
Israel  began  to  be  called  Jews,  (in  Latin,  Judaei.)  (2  Chron. 
ix.  11,  xvii.  2,  Hag.  ii.  14.) 

VI.  In  Genesis,  xl.  15,  it  is  called  the  Land  of  the  He- 
brews, another  name  for  the  Israelites,  derived  from  Eber, 
an  ancestor  of  Abraham.  This  name  is  also  used  by  Jose- 
phus,  and  some  heathen  writers.  ^ 

VII.  Palestine  was  originally  nothing  more  than  the 
Greek  name  for  the  Land  of  the  Philistines,  a  tract  of 
country  situated  on  the  sea-coast,  south-west  of  the  Land 
of  Israel.  (See  p.  162. )  Usage,  however,  has  extended  it 
to  the  whole  region  bounded  by  the  Jordan  and  the  Medi- 
terranean, Arabia,  and  Mount  Lebanon,  It  is  the  term 
most  commonly  employed  at  present. 

BOUNDARIES  AND  EXTENT 

It  is  difficult  to  fix  precisely  the  boundaries  of  the  coun- 
try inhabited  by  the  Israelites  ;  as  its  extent  varied  at  dif- 
ferent periods  of  the  Jewish  history,  and  as  its  limits  are 
expressed  in  Scripture  by  reference  to  places  the  exact 
situation  of  which  is  now  uncertain. 

In  general  terms,  however,  it  may  be  described  as  lying 


80  V.  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

between  the  mountains  of  Lebanon  on  the  north,  the  Me- 
diterranean on  the  west,  and  the  deserts  of  Arabia  on  the 
south.  Beyond  the  Jordan,  it  stretched  eastward  without 
any  well-defined  limit,  into  the  region  which  lies  between 
that  river  and  the  Euphrates. 

It  was  situated,  therefore,  between  31°  and  33°  30'  north 
latitude,  and  between  34°  30'  and  37°  east  longitude  from 
Greenwich. 

The  exact  dimensions  are  of  course  uncertain.  The 
whole  length  of  the  land  is  commonly  denoted  in  the  Bible 
by  the  phrase  "  from  Dan  to  Beer-sheba,"  which  places 
are  supposed  to  have  been  distant  from  each  other  about 
150  miles.  The  greatest  breadth  from  east  to  west,  though 
very  doubtful,  was  probably  not  more  than  80  miles. 

FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

Palestine  is  agreeably  diversified  with  hill  and  dale. 
The  Scriptures  repeatedly  make  mention  of  it  as  a  hilly 
country.  (Ex.  xv.  17,  Deut.  xi.  11,  1  Kings  xx.  23,  Ezek. 
xxxiv.  13.)  Two  parallel  chains  of  mountains  run  from 
north  to  south,  one  on  each  side  of  the  Jordan,  originating 
in  the  mountains  of  Lebanon,  which  divide  Palestine  from 
Syria,  and  terminating  in  the  mountains  of  Horeb  and  Si- 
nai, in  Arabia  Petraea.  From  these,  branch  off"  a  number 
of  minor  ridges,  intersecting  the  whole  country,  and  in- 
terrupted, here  and  *there,  by  plains  and  spacious  valleys. 
The  whole  region  between  Jaffa  and  Rama  consists  of  a 
succession  of  gentle  elevations  and  delightful  fields  and 
valleys. 

In  Judea,  there  are  mountains  of  moderate  height,  un- 
even and  irregular  in  shape.  About  and  beyond  Jericho, 
the  hills  are  bare  and  barren,  the  valleys  uncultivated,  full 
of  stones,  and  destitute  of  verdure. 

In  the  north,  the  mountains,  though  inferior  in  height, 
have  a  more  inviting  aspect ;  being  covered  with  vegetation. 
The  valleys,  which  they  overlook,  are  fruitful,  and  are 
planted  thick  with  orchards. 

The  interior  of  the  land  is  one  great  valley,  watered  by 
the  only  considerable  river  in  the  country,  the  Jordan, 
which  flows  from  north  to  south,  and  empties  itself  into  a 
large  salt  lake. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  hill  country,  the  plains  and 


PALESTINE.  •  81 

valleys  are  numerous,  and  some  of  them  extensive,  but  far 
less  productive  than  those  upon  the  river. 

The  sea-coast,  to  which  the  name  Palestine  more  pro- 
perly belongs,  is  almost  entirely  level,  and  not  only  with- 
out rivers,  but  even  destitute  of  brooks,  except  such  tem- 
porary rivulets  as  are  produced  by  the  melting  of  the  snow 
in  winter.  Notwithstanding,  the  soil  is  black  and  rich, 
and  when  the  rains  are  regular,  produces  plentiful  crops  of 
grain  and  pulse. 

MOUNTAINS.    . 

I.  The  mountains  of  Lebanon,  which  form  the  northern 
boundary  of  Palestine,  dividing  it  from  Syria,  are  consider- 
ed as  belonging  to  both  countries.*  A  branch  of  this  range 
running  to  the  south-west  from  Anti-Libanus,  is  probably 
the  Mount  Naphtali,  upon  which  Kedesh  one  of  the  cities 
of  refuge,  was  situated.  (Josh.  xx.  7.)  It  is  now  called 
Mount  Seffad,        , . 

II.  Mount  Carmel,  which  still  retains  its  ancient  name, 
is  situated  on  a  promontory,  upon  the  south  side  of  the  bay 
of  St.  Jean  d'Acre.  It  consists  of  several  hills,  rising  in 
separate  peaks ;  that  furthest  north  being  the  highest.  The 
soil  of  this  mountain  is  very  rich,  producing  fruits  and  flow- 
ers in  abundance.  From  this  circumstance  it  obtained  its 
name,  which  signifies  a  fruitful  field.  It  is  also  exceed- 
ingly well  watered  by  innumerable  rivulets.  We  often 
find  allusions  to  its  fertility  and  beauty  in  the  Scriptures. 
(See  Isa.  xxxiii.  9,  xxxv.  2,  Sol.  Song  vii.  5,  Jer.  1.  19, 
Amos  i.  2.) 

Mount  Carmel  abounds  in  spacious  caverns,  some  of 
which  were  formerly  inhabited  by  monks,  whose  cells  are 
still  visible.  On  this  mountain  the  prophets  Elijah  and 
Elisha,  for  the  most  part  dwelt,  and  the  Mohammedans  still 
regard  one  of  the  caves  with  particular  reverence,  as  having 
Deen  the  residence  of  Elijah.  An  order  of  monks  in  the 
Roman  Catholic  church  are  called  Carmelites,  because  they 
erected  their  first  convent  on  the  summit  of  this  mountain. 

III.  To  the  south-east  of  Carmel,  stands  mount  Tabor^ 

*  For  someltccount  of  Lebanon,  see  Syria,  p.  37. 


82         ♦  OEOORAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

a  lime-stone  mountain,  in  the  form  of  a  sugar  loaf,  covered  to 
the  very  top  with  forests  of  oaks  and  other  trees.  It  over- 
tops all  the  neighbouring  hills,  to  which  the  prophet  al- 
ludes. (Jer.  xlvi.  18.)  On  the  south  and  west  of  Tabor 
lies  the  plain  of  Jezreel  or  Esdrelon,  beyond  which  on  the 
south  are  the  mountains  of  Nablus.  On  the  north,  the  hills 
of  Nazareth  come  up  to  the  very  foot  of  Tabor.  On  the 
northern  side,  Mount  Tabor  is  inaccessible.  The  summit 
of  the  mountain  is  an  oval  plain  which  can  be  compassed  in 
half-an-hour.  On  this  mountain  Barak  encamped  with  his 
ten  thousand  men,  before  he  attacked  Sisera.  (Judg.  iv.  6, 
1'2,  14.)  Here  also,  according  to  a  very  old  tradition, 
Christ  was  transfigured.  (Matt.  xvii.  1,  Mark  ix.  2,  Luke 
ix.  28.)  During  the  summer  season.  Mount  Tabor  is  cov- 
ered with  thick  clouds,  which  break  away  at  noon.  A 
strong  wind  blows  by  day,  and  at  night  more  dew  falls  than 
any  where  in  Syria.  The  woody  parts  of  the  mountain 
abound  in  ounces  and  wild  boars,  and  have  always  been 
a  resort  for  hunters  and  fowlers.  (Hos.  v.  1.)  From  the  top 
of  Mount  Tabor  there  is  a  noble  prospect,  reaching  south- 
ward to  Jerusalem,  eastward  to  the  plains  of  Jordan,  and 
northward  to  the  plains  of  Galilee 

IV.  A  few  miles  to  the  north  of  Tabor,  stands  a  rugged 
mountain,  almost  square,  terminating  in  two  sharp  peaks. 
By  the  Arabs  it  is  called  the  Horns  of  Hotein,  from  a  vil- 
lage in  the  neighbourhood  ;  but  by  the  Christians,  the 
Mount  of  Beatitudes,  from  a  tradition  that  the  Sermon  on 
the  Mount  was  here  delivered.   (Matt.  v.  vi.  vii. ) 

V.  To  the  south  of  Nazareth,  beyond  the  plain  of  Es- 
drelon, there  is  a  mountain  of  moderate  height,  the  south 
side  of  which  is  an  abrupt  and  rugged  precipice.  This  the 
tradition  of  the  country  designates  as  the  place  from  which 
the  Jews  attempted  to  precipitate  the  Saviour.  (Luke  iv. 
29.)  See  p.  130. 

VI.  On  the  south-east  border  of  the  plain  of  Esdrelon,  is 
the  mountain  of  Gilboa,  so  called  from  the  numerous  springs 
by  which  it  is  watered,  and  remarkable  for  a  bloody  battle 
between  the  Israelites  and  the  Philistines,  in  which  king 
Saul  was  slain.  (1  Sam.  xxviii.  4,  xxxi.  1,  2  Sam.  i.  6,  21.) 
The  soil  of  this  mountain  and  its  environs  is  rich,  but  un- 
cultivated. 


PALESTINE.  83 

VII.  A  little  further  south  begins  Mount  Ephraim.  This 
name  is  given  in  the  Scriptures  to  a  continuous  tract  of 
highlands,  running  through  the  territory  of  the  tribe  of 
Ephraim.  (Josh.  xvii.  10,  15,  Judg.  xvii.  1,  xix.  16,  18, 
&.C.  &LC. )  Most  of  the  mountains  in  this  range  are  covered 
with  woods,  and  interspersed  with  fruitful  valleys. 

VIII.  Still  further  south  stand  Mount  Ebal  and  Mount 
Gerizim,  separated  by  a  valley,  in  which  the  old  city  of 
Shechem  stood :  on  the  south  side  Mount  Ebal  is  green  with 
luxuriant  vegetation ;  on  the  north,  it  is  steep  and  rugged. 
These  two  mountains  are  remarkable  for  the  solemn  cere- 
mony performed  upon  them,  by  the  command  of  Moses,  at 
the  ratification  of  the  covenant  between  God  and  his  people. 
(Deut.  xxvii.  12 — 26,  xxviii.  2 — 14,  16 — 57.)  Moses  also 
commanded,  (Deut.  xxvii.  4,)  that  after  the  conquest  of  the 
land  an  altar  should  be  built,  and  a  feast  celebrated,  on 
mount  Ebal ;  which  was  performed  by  Joshua,  (viii.  30 — 
35.)  The  Samaritans,  however,  pretended,  that  it  was 
upon  mount  Gerizim  that  these  rites  were  performed,  and 
accused  the  Jews  of  falsifying  this  passage  of  the  penta- 
teuch.  But  the  charge  may,  with  greater  justice  be  re- 
torted upon  themselves. 

After  the  building  of  the  second  temple  at  Jerusalem,  the 
Samaritans  built  one  for  themselves  upon  mount  Gerizim, 
(John  iv.  20,)  which  is  still  regarded  as  a  holy  place  by 
the  Samaritans  at  Nablus,  who  look  towards  it,  when  they 
pray,  as  the  Jews  look  towards  Jerusalem,  and  the  Moham- 
medans towards  Mecca. 

IX.  The  hills  which  encircle  Nablus,  (the  ancient  She- 
chem,) are  the  same  upon  which  the  sons  of  Jacob  fed  their 
flocks,  (Gen.  xxxvii.  14,  17,  25,)  and  are  still  famous  for 
their  pasture-grounds.  One  of  these  is  probably  the  same 
called  Zalmon  in  Judges,  (ix.  48,  49,)  and  Salmon  in  the 
Psalms,  (Ixviii.  14.) 

X.  To  Mount  Ephraim  belongs  the  Hill  of  Gaash,  where 
Joshua  was  buried,  (Josh.  xxiv.  30,  Judg.  ii.  9,)  and  per- 
haps, also,  ih^hrooks  of  Gaash.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  30,  1  Chron. 
xi.  32.) 

XI.  In  2  Chron.  xiii.  4,  mention  is  made  of  Mount  Zc- 


84  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE 

maraim,  which  is  in  Mount  Ephraim;  and  in  Joshua  xviii. 
22,  we  find  a  city  of  the  same  name,  but  situated  in  the 
southern  part  of  Benjamin. 

XII.  When  the  continued  chain  of  mountains,  running 
from  north  to  south,  enters  the  territory  of  the  tribe  of  Ju- 
dah,  it  assumes  the  name  of  the  Mountain  of  Jiidah,  (Josh. 
XX.  7,  iS^c.)  and  stretches  to  the  southern  extremity  of  Pa- 
lestine, and  eastward  to  the  valley  of  the  Jordan.  In  an- 
cient times,  it  was  called  the  mountain  of  the  Jimorites, 
after  the  Canaanitish  tribe,  which  had  possession  of  it. 
(Deut.  i.  20.)  The  mountains  of  this  chain  grow  more  and 
more  barren  and  precipitous,  as  we  recede  from  Mount 
Ephraim  towards  Jerusalem. 

XIII.  Not  far  to  the  south-west  of  Jerusalem,  is  Mount 
Perazim,  of  which  Isaiah  speaks,  (xxviii.  21,)  in  allusion, 
no  doubt,  to  the  slaughter  of  the  Philistines  by  David,  upon 
Baal-Perazim.  (See  2  Sam.  v.  18,  20,  where  the  meaning 
of  the  name  is  given.) 

XIV.  The  Mount  of  Olives  rises  on  the  east  of  Jerusa- 
lem, (Zech.  xiv.  4,)  in  three  peaks,  the  most  northerly  of 
which  is  the  highest  point  about  the  city.  Though  it  no 
longer  produces  olives  in  abundance,  it  is  rich  in  grapes, 
citrons,  almonds,  dates,  and  figs.  A  little  below  the  mid- 
dle peak  stands  a  chapel,  on  the  site  of  a  splendid  church 
called  the  church  of  the  Ascension,  built  by  the  Empress 
Helena,  in  the  fourth  century.  In  this  chapel  a  stone  is 
exhibited  to  pilgrims,  containing  the  impress  of  a  human 
foot,  three  fingers  deep,  and  said  to  have  been  left  there  by 
the  foot  of  Christ,  at  the  moment  of  his  ascension.  It  is 
expressly  said,  however,  (Luke  xxiv.  50,  52,)  that  he  as- 
cended from  Bethany  ;  which  village  lay  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  on  the  eastern  side. 

The  southern  side  of  this  mountain  is  called  by  the  Arabs 
the  Mount  of  Solomon,  because  that  king  here  worshipped 
idols.  (1  Kings  xi.  7.)  The  place  where  his  altars  stood, 
till  destroyed  by  Josiah,  was  called  the  Mount  of  Corrup- 
tion. (2  Kings  xxiii.  13.) 

From  this  mountain  there  is  a  commanding  view  of  the 
surrounding  country;  for  which  reason,  under  the  Mosaic 


PALESTINE.  86 

law,  fires  were  kindled  on  its  summit  to  announce  the  be- 
ginnings of  the  months. 

XV.  The  ridge  of  mountains,  stretching  to  the  north- 
east, from  Jerusalem  towards  Jericho,  is  a  mere  succession 
of  barren  rocks.  The  highest  and  most  remarkable  in  the 
range,  is  that  called  Quarantania,  or  the  mountain  of  the 
Forty  Days  Fast,  from  a  tradition  that  it  was  the  place  of 
Christ's  temptation.  (Matt,  iv.)  It  is  very  difficult  of  ac- 
cess, and  is  destitute,  not  only  of  trees  and  grass,  but  even 
of  earth ;  being  composed,  almost  exclusively,  of  naked 
rock. 

XVI.  South  of  Jerusalem  the  mountains  are,  for  the 
most  part,  wholly  barren.  As  we  draw  near  to  Bethlehem, 
however,  we  begin  to  meet  with  olive-yards  and  vineyards. 
Bethlehem  itself  is  situated  on  a  high  and  pleasant  hill, 
stretching  from  east  to  west.  Further  to  the  south-east,  the 
mountains  become  still  more  bare  and  rugged,  and  in  the 
immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  salt  sea,  they  are  high  and 
exceedingly  precipitous.  The  steepest  hills  and  deepest 
valleys  are  in  the  south,  were  the  Bedouins,  or  wandering 
Arabs,  often  take  refuge  from  their  enemies,  and  feed  their 
flocks  and  herds  ;  for  though  the  mountains  on  the  shore 
of  the  salt  sea  are  mere  naked  rocks,  the  valleys  between 
them  afford  the  richest  pastures.  In  this  region  is  the  Car- 
mel,  mentioned  in  1  Sam.  xv.  12,  xxv.  5,  which  still  re- 
tains its  ancient  name.  The  hills  lying  further  west  are 
still  called  by  the  Christians  of  the  Holy  Land,  the  Moun- 
tains of  Judah,  (Josh.  xi.  21,  xx.  7,  xxi.  11,  2  Chron. 
xxvii.  4,)  and  have  a  far  more  inviting  aspect  than  those 
just  mentioned. 

Some  miles  to  the  north-west  is  the  tract  called  the  TVil- 
demess  of  John  the  Baptist,  (Matt.  iii.  1,  Mark  i.  4,  Luke 
iii.  3,)  which  is  now  one  of  the  most  delightful  spots  in 
Judea;  being,  in  fact,  a  highly  cultivated  garden.  A  grotto 
is  here  shown  as  the  hermitage  inhabited  by  the  fore-run- 
ner of  Christ. 

^  XVII.  Mount  Seir,  which  stretches  to  the  south  of  the 
mountains  of  Judah,  is,  perhaps,  the  most  desolate  and  bar- 
ren chain  of  mountains  in  the  world.  In  early  times  it 
was  inhabited  by  a  race  called  Horites,  that  is,  dwellers  in 
H 


86  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

caves,  (Gen.  xlv.  6,)  who  were  afterwards  destroyed  by  the 
posterity  of  Esau.  (Deut.  ii.  12.) 

XVIII.  Bashan  and  Gilead  were  the  names  given  by 
the  ancient  Hebrews  to  the  mountainous  district  lying  be- 
tween the  brooks  Jarmuk  and  Arnon,  east  of  Jordan.  Ba- 
shan properly  denoted  the  northern  half  of  this  region,  and 
Grilead  the  southern  ;  though  the  two  names  appear  to 
have  been  sometimes  used  indifferently,  to  denote  the 
whole.  They  are  often  found  in  connexion.  (Josh.  xvii. 
1,  5,  2  Kings  X.  33,   Mic.  vii.  14.) 

Bashan  is  full  of  caves,  once  the  residence  of  men,  some 
of  which  are  still  inhabited.  It  is  also  remarkable  for  the 
great  depth  of  its  valleys,  though  it  has  no  lofty  mountains. 
In  Gilead,  the  ground  is  higher,  and  rises  into  hills  of  con- 
siderable elevation,  covered,  for  the  most  part,  with  thick 
forests. 

There  are  frequent  allusions  in  Scripture  to  the  cattle  of 
Bashan,  (Deut.  xxxii.  14,  Ps.  xxii.  12,  Ezek.  xxxix.  18, 
Amos  iv.  1,)  and  of  Gilead,  (Jer.  1.  19,  Sol.  Song  iv.  1.) 
And  even  to  this  day  they  are  famous  in  the  east  for  the 
excellence  of  their  pasture-grounds.  There  are  also  some 
allusions  to  the  oaks  of  Bashan,  (Isa.  ii.  13,  Ezek.  xxvii. 
6,)  in  which  tree,  the  country  still  abounds. 

Mount  Gilead,  properly  so  called,  stretches  from  east 
to  west,  at  some  distance  to  the  south  of  the  brook  Jab- 
bok.  It  was  on  this  mountain,  that  Jacob  and  Laban  set 
up  a  heap  of  stones,  as  a  witness  of  the  covenant  between 
them,  from  which  circumstance  it  derives  its  name  of  Gilead 
or  Galeed.  (Gen.  xxxi.  47.)  On  this  mountain,  too,  the 
army  of  Gideon  was  reduced  from  thirty-two  thousand  to 
three  hundred.  (Judg.  vii.  3.) 

XIX.  The  peak  of  mount  Attanes,  some  distance  to  the 
south  of  mount  Gilead,  a  brook  being  between  them,  is  the 
highest  point  in  this  whole  region.  It  is  probably  the  ancient 
Nebo  or  Pisgah,  from  which  Moses  viewed  the  promised 
land,  before  his  death.  (Deut.  xxxii.  49,  xxxiv.  1,  Num. 
xxvii.  12,  xxxiii.  47,  48.) 


PALESTINE.  St 


CAVES. 


Palestine,  like  all  other  mountainous  countries  which 
rest  on  a  bed  of  limestone,  abounds  in  caves.  These  in  for- 
mer times  have  been  applied  to  various  uses,  of  most  of 
which  we  find  examples  in  the  Scripture.  Sometimes  they 
have  been  occupied  as  dwelling-places,  not  only  for  a  time, 
in  great  emergences,  as  in  the  case  of  Lot,  (Gen.  xix.  30,) 
but  permanently.  We  read  in  Scripture  of  whole  tribes 
called  Horites,  from  their  dwelling  in  caves.  (Gen.  xiv.  6.) 
And  it  has  already  been  mentioned,  that  the  Mount  Bashan 
contains  multitudes  of  caves,  which  have  evidently  been 
inhabited  in  former  times.  We  know,  too,  that  Elijah  and 
Elisha  dwelt  in  caves  upon  Mount  Carmel.  It  is  a  very  old 
tradition,  that  the  stable  in  which  Christ  was  bom  at  Beth- 
lehem, was  a  cave ;  and  it  is  a  fact,  that,  even  now,  caves 
are  often  used  as  stables  in  the  east.  Sometimes  they  have 
been  resorted  to  as  places  of  conceal m put  from  pursuing 
enemies.  Of  this,  repeated  instances  occur  in  Scripture. 
(Josh.  X.  16,  Judg.  vi.  2,  1  Sam.  xiii.  6,  xxii.  1,  2,  xxiv. 
1,  2  Sam.  xxiii.  13,  Ps.  Ivii.  title.)  A  spacious  cave  near 
Engedi  is  still  pointed  out,  as  the  one  where  David  and  his 
followers  took  refuge  when  they  fled  from  Saul.  (1  Sam. 
xxiv.  1,  &c.)  Sometimes  they  were  used  as  burial-places. 
(Gen.  xxiii.  9,  19.)  In  the  neighbourhood  of  Jerusalem, 
there  are  a  great  number  of  caves,  once  used  as  sepulchres, 
some  of  which  are  remarkable  for  their  architectural  orna- 
ments. Among  these  are  the  graves  of  the  Judges  of  Israel, 
the  graves  of  the  kings  of  Judah,  the  sepulchre  of  Jehosha- 
phat,  and  that  of  Joseph  of  Arimathea. 

PLAINS  AND  VALLEYS. 

I.  The  most  remarkable  plain  in  Palestine  is  that  through 
which  the  Jordan  flows,  and  which  from  that  river  is  called 
the  Plain  of  Jordan,  (2  Chron.  iv.  17,)  or  the  region  round 
about  Jordan.  (Matt.  iii.  5,  Luke  iii.  3.)  It  is  also  called  by 
Joshua  (xi.  2,  xii.  3,)  the  plain  south  of  Cinneroth,  i.  e.  the 
sea  of  Tiberias :  and  in  2  Kings  xxv.  4,  F^ek.  xlvii.  8, 
simply  the  plain.  Its  modern  name  is  El  Gaur.  Strictly 
speaking,  it  extended  only  from  the  sea  of  Tiberias  to  the 
Dead  sea ;  but  the  word  was  sometimes  used  to  denote  the 


€8  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  felBLE. 

whole  extent  of  country  watered  by  the  Jordan,  from 
the  foot  of  Lebanon  to  the  wilderness  of  Paran.  In  some 
parts  a  multitude  of  rivulets  flowing  from  the  hills  which 
enclose  this  plain  cover  the  adjacent  soil  with  verdure.  But 
for  the  most  part  the  plain  of  Jordan  is  a  parched  and  bar- 
ren waste,  hotter  than  any  other  region  of  the  country,  and 
exceedingly  unwholesome.  It  is  inhabited  only  by  Be- 
douins, and  by  them  only  in  the  winter. 

That  part  of  the  plain  of  Jordan  which  is  contiguous  to 
Jericho  and  the  salt  sea,  is  called  in  the  Old  Testament,  the 
Plains  of  Jericho.  (Josh.  iv.  13,  v.  10,  2  Kings  xxv.  5.) 
The  soil  in  that  quarter,  is  fruitful  and  well  watered,  but 
uncultivated.  The  only  product  of  importance  is  the  bal- 
sam obtained  from  the  Zaccum-tree,  which  is  considered 
useful  in  the  cure  of  wounds. 

II.  The  valley  of  Jiphthah-El  was  the  boundary  between 
the  possessions  of  Zebulon  and  Asher.  (Josh.  xix.  14,  27.) 

III.  The  plain  or  valley  of  Jezreel,  in  Galilee,  (Josh.  xvii. 
16,)  stretched  southward  from  Nazareth  and  Mount  Tabor» 
In  later  times  it  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Esdrelon.  In 
1  Sam.  xxxi.  7,  it  is  called  simply  the  Valley.  The  soil  is 
very  fruitful,  but  uncultivated.  It  is  remarkable  for  several 
battles,  one  between  Gideon  and  the  Midianites,  (Judg.  vi. 
33,)  one  between  Saul  and  the  Philistines,  (1  Sam.  xxix. 
]y  and  one  between  Ahab  and  the  Syrians.  (1  Kings  xx. 

IV.  Sharon,  which  in  Hebrew  signifies  a  plain,  extends 
from  Csesarea  to  Joppa.  There  are  frequent  allusions  in 
the  Scriptures  to  its  fertility  and  the  richness  of  its  pastures. 
(Isa.  xxxiii.  9,  xxxv.  2,  Ixv.  10,  Sol.  Song  ii.  1,  1  Chron. 
V.  16,  xxvii.  29.)  This  plain  produces  melons  in  such 
profusion,  that  it  annually  supplies,  not  only  the  adjacent 
regions,  but  the  whole  coast  of  Syria,  the  isle  of  Cyprus, 
and  the  city  of  Damietta  in  Egypt.  The  greater  part  of  it, 
however,  i«  uncultivated  and  overgrown  with  grass  and 
flowers.  lu  the  midst  of  this  plain  there  is  a  village  still 
called  Sharon,  which  was  anciently  a  city.  (Josh.  xii.  18.) 
To  this  plain  appertains  the  smaller  plain  of  Ono,  (Neh.  vi 
2,  xi.  35.) 


PALESTINE.  89 

V.  The  valley  of  Ai  lay  to  the  north  of  a  city  of  the 
same  name,  on  the  northern  frontier  of  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
min. In  this  valley  Joshua  encampedy^hen  he  besieged 
the  city.   (Josh.  viii.  11.) 

VI.  The  valleys  of  Gideon  and  Ajalon  are  remarkable 
for  the  victory  achieved  by  Joshua  over  the  five  allied 
kings  who  besieged  the  city  of  Gibeon,  (Josh,  x.)  and  for 
the  miracle  performed  there,  vv^hen  "  he  said  in  the  sight 
of  Israel,  Sun,  stand  thou  still  upon  Gibeon;  and  thou 
Moon,  in  the  valley  of  Ajalon:"  (x.  12.)  To  this  battle 
Isaiah  alludes,  when  he  says  "  the  Lord  shall  be  wroth,  as 
in  the  valley  of  Gibeon  !"  (xxviii-  21 .)  These  valleys  were 
situated  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  north-west  of  Jerusalem.  The 
city  of  Gibeon  lay  towards  the  west,  at  no  great  distance 

VII.  The  valley  of  Zephathah,  near  the  city  of  Maresha, 
in  the  south-western  part  of  the  territory  of  Judah,  is  re- 
markable for  a  battle  between  Asa  and  the  Ethiopians.  (2 
Chron.  xiv.  9—13.) 

VIII.  A  few  miles  south-west  of  Jerusalem  lies  the  val- 
ley of  Elah,  (that  is,  the  valley  of  terebinth  or  turpentine 
trees,)  in  which  David  slew  Goliath.  (1  Sam  xvii.  2,  49 — 
51.)  Through  it  flows  the  brook  from  which  David  chose 
the  five  smooth  stones.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  40.) 

IX.  The  valley  of  Rephaitn  or  the  Giants,  so  called  from 
an  old  Canaariitish  race  of  gigantic  stature,  (Gen.  xv.  20,) 
stretched  from  Jerusalem  to  Bethlehem.  It  was  celebrated 
of  old  for  its  fertility  and  abundant  crops  of  grain,  as  ap- 
pears from  Isa.  xvii.  5,  where  the  overthrow  of  the  Israel- 
ites is  compared  to  a  harvest  of  gleaning  in  the  valley  of 
Rephaim.  tn  this  valley,  David  twice  defeated  the  Philis- 
tines. (2  Sam.  V.  18—25. 

X.  East  of  Jerusalem,  between  the  city  and  the  Mount 
of  Olives,  there  is  a  narrow  but  deep  valley,  running  from 
north  to  south,  called  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  because 
that  king  is  supposed  to  have  been  buried  there.  This 
valley  is  called  the  valley  of  decision,  in  Joel  iii.  where  we 
are  informed,  that  in  it  God  will  gather  all  nations  to  be 
judged ;  (iii.  2,  12,  14.)     It  is  the  belief  of  the  Mohamme- 

H  2 


90  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

dans,  that  at  the  last  day,  Mohammed  will  be  seated  on  a 
pillar  erected  in  this  valley. 

XI.  South-east  of  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  and  north 
of  the  valley  of  Rephaim,  lay  the  valley  of  Hinnom  or  of 
the  son  of  Hinnom.  (Josh.  xv.  8,  xviii.  16.)  In  a  certain 
part  of  this  valley  called  Tophet,  some  of  the  kings  of  Judah 
made  their  children  pass  through  the  fire  to  Moloch.  (Jer. 
vii.  31,  Isa.  xxx.  33.)  Josiah  put  an  end  to  this  abomina- 
tion, and  defiled  the  place,  (2  Kings  xxiii.  10,)  probably  by 
depositing  dead  bodies  there.  By  the  later  Jews,  the  name 
of  this  valley  was  employed  to  designate  the  place  of  future 
punishment,  in  which  sense  it  is  often  used  in  the  New 
Testament.  (Matt.  v.  22,  xviii.  9,  Mark  ix.  43,  Luke 
xii.  6.) 

Xlf.  Not  far  from  Gilgal,  where  the  children  of  Israel 
first  encamped,  when  they  entered  Canaan,  lay  the  valley 
of  Achor  or  Tribulation,  so  called  from  the  calamities  oc- 
casioned by  the  theft  of  Achan,  who  was  stoned  here. 
(Josh.  vii.  24 — 26.)  This  valley  was  a  part  of  the  north- 
ern boundary  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  7.)  The 
prophet  Hosea,  in  predicting  the  return  of  the  Hebrews 
from  captivity,  declares  that  God  would  give  them  the  val- 
ley of  Achor  for  a  door  Hope ;  in  other  words,  that  the 
same  spot  which  was  a  place  of  distress  and  tribulation, 
when  Israel  first  entered  Canaan,  should  be  a  place  of  joy- 
ful expectation  to  those  who  returned  from  exile.  The 
name  is  also  mentioned  in  another  prophecy,  Isa.  Ixv.  10. 

XIII.  Hebron,  which  lies  a  few  miles  south  of  Bethle- 
hem, is  a  long  valley,  agreeably  diversified  with  rocky  hills, 
forests  of  oak  and  fir,  vineyards  and  olive  gardens.  Vines 
are  more  cultivated  here,  than  in  any  other  part  of  Pales- 
tine, though  little  wine  is  made.  To  this  region,  probably 
belongs  the  valley  of  Eshcol  or  cluster  of  grapes,  so  called 
from  the  cluster  which  the  spies  brought  back  to  Moses. 
(Num.  xiii.  24,  25.)  In  the  Vale  of  Hebron,  Jacob  was 
dwelling  when  he  sent  Joseph  to  seek  his  brethren.  (Gen. 
xxxvii.  14.) 

XIV.  The  valley  of  Salt,  where  Joab  slew  ten-thousand 


PALESTINE.  ^1 

Edomites,  (Ps.  Ix.  title,  2  Sam.  viii.  13,  1  Chron.  xviii. 
1*2,)  is  a  long  level  tract  at  the  south-western  extremity  of 
the  Dead  sea,  totally  destitute  of  vegetation. 

XV.  Ezekiel,  in  predicting  the  destruction  of  Gog  and 
Magog,  says  ;  "I  will  give  unto  Gog  a  place  there  of 
graves  in  Israel,  the  valley  of  the  passengers  on  the  east  of 
the  sea  ;"  (xxxix.  11.)  This  is  supposed  to  indicate  a  plain 
or  valley,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Jordan,  at  the  southern 
extremity  of  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  where  there  is  a  ford. 

XVI.  The  valley  of  Succoth,  used  by  David,  (Ps.  Ix.  6,) 
in  opposition  to  Shechem,  to  denote  the  country  east  of  Jor- 
dan, was  situated  in  the  tribe  of  Gad.  (Josh.  xiii.  27.) 
Here  Jacob,  on  his  return  from  Mesopotamia  "  built  him 
a  house  and  made  booths  for  his  cattle,"  for  which  reason 
he  called  it  Succoth  or  the  valley  of  Booths.  (Gen.  xxxiii. 
17.) 

XVII.  The  valley  over  against  Beth-Peor  in  the  land 
of  Moab,  where  Moses  repeated  the  law  to  the  people, 
(Deut.  iv.  46,)  and  where  he  himself  was  buried,  (xxxiv. 
6,)  is  probably  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mount 
Nebo  or  Attarus,  already  mentioned. 

XVIII.  The  plains  of  Moab,  where  the  children  of  Is- 
rael were  so  long  encamped,  before  they  entered  Canaan, 
(Num.  xxii.  1,  xxxiii.  48 — 50,  Deut.  xxxiv.  1,  8,)  ex- 
tended from  the  brook  Wale  to  the  Arnon,  beyond  Jordan. 
The  soil  is  sandy  and  unfruitful. 

This  tract  of  country,  which  belonged  originally  to  the 
Moabites,  was  taken  from  them  by  the  Amorites,  who  had 
possession  of  it,  when  the  Israelites  encamped  there.  It 
was  subsequently  occupied  by  the  tribes  of  Reuben  and 
Gad.  (Num.  xxxii.  33.)  The  last  place  in  this  region 
where  the  Israelites  encamped  before  they  crossed  the  Jor- 
dan, was  Shittim.  (Num.  xxv.  1,  xxxiii.  4,  9.  Josh.  ii.  1, 
iii.  1,  Mic.  vi.  5.)  This  is  a  different  Shittim  from  that 
of  which  Joel  speaks,  (iii.  18,)  which  was  probably  a  val- 
ley on  the  west  of  Jordan  full  of  water  after  hard  rains,  but 
at  other  times  dry.  He  declares,  therefore,  that  in  the 
happy  times  which  he  predicts,  it  should  be  no  longer  so  ; 
but  that  "  a  fountain  should  come  forth  of  the  house  of  the 


9S  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Lord,  and  water  the  valley  of  Shittim.^'  Similar  images 
are  employed  by  Ezekiel  (xlvii.  1 — 12,)  and  Zechariah, 
(xiv.  8.)  Nothing  further  is  known  respecting  the  situa- 
tion of  this  valley. 

DESERTS  AND  FORESTS. 

By  the  word  desert  and  wilderness,  as  used  in  Scripture, 
we  are  not  always  to  understand  mere  wastes.  These  names 
are  often  applied  to  tracts  of  country,  which,  though  not 
agriculturally  cultivated,  afford  the  richest  pastures.  Isaiah 
(xlii.  11,)  speaks  of  "  the  wilderness  and  the  cities  thereof," 
and  Joshua,  (xv.  61,)  enumerates  six  cities,  with  their  vil- 
'lages,  all  situated  in  the  wilderness  of  Judah, 

I.  Almost  all  the  deserts  in  the  Holy  Land  are  in  the 
southern  district.  The  soil  of  the  northern  parts  is  ge- 
nerally fertile.  The  only  desert  in  the  north,  of  which 
we  find  any  mention,  is  the  desert  of  Bethsaida,  (Luke  ix. 
10,)  beyond  the  sea  of  Galilee.  To  this  desert  Christ  re- 
tired, when  he  heard  that  Herod  had  beheaded  John  the 
Baptist.  (Matt.  xiv.  13.)  In  this  desert,  he  fed  the  five 
thousand  with  five  loaves  and  two  fishes.  (Matt.  xiv.  15 — 
21,  Mark  vi.  35 — 44,  Luke  ix.  12 — 15.)  Bethsaida,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  which  this  desert  lay,  was  situated 
in  Gaulonitis,  now  called  Jolan,  an  open  champaign  dis- 
trict south  of  Mount  Hermon. 

II.  The  wilderness  of  Jericho,  between  Jerusalem  and 
Jericho,  consisted  of  a  series  of  deep  valleys,  infested,  from 
the  earliest  times,  by  robbers.  A  rising  ground  at  the  en- 
trance of  this  wilderness,  is  called,  (Josh.  xv.  7,)  the  going 
up  to  Adummim,  which  name  signifies  red  or  bloody  ;  in  al- 
lusion, perhaps,  to  the  bloody  murders,  repeatedly  commit- 
ted there.  Of  this  wilderness  our  Saviour  speaks  in  the 
parable  of  the  good  Samaritan.  (Luke  x.  30,  35.)  Not  far 
from  the  rising  ground  already  mentioned,  the  ruins  of  a 
caravanserai  or  eastern  inn,  may  still  be  seen,  called  the 
Samaritans'  Inn,  and  at  no  great  distance  the  remains  of  a 
fort  called  the  Samaritans'  Castle,  From  this  wilderness, 
the  traveller  passes  over  a  steep  declivity  into  the  Plain 
of  Jericho. 


PALESTINE.  93 

III.  The  wilderness  of  Judah  extends  along  the  western 
shore  of  the  Dead  sea.  Here  John  the  Baptist  really  lived 
and  preached,  and  not  in  the  district  which  now  bears  his 
name;  but  which  is,  in  fact,  k  garden,  not  a  desert.  (P.  85.) 
The  solitary  shore  of  the  Dead  sea  was  much  more  suited 
to  his  character  and  mode  of  life,  than  such  a  spot ;  and  be- 
sides we  know  that  he  baptized  his  converts  in  the  waters 
of  the  Jordan,  to  which  the  wilderness  of  Judea  was  con- 
tiguous. • 

IV.  Within  the  bounds  of  the  wilderness  of  Judah,  and, 
in  fact,  forming  a  part  of  it,  is  the  wilderness  of  En-gedi^ 
where  David  hid  himself  so  long,  to  elude  the  pursuit  of 
Saul.  (1  Sam.  xxiv.  2.)  It  is  full  of  precipitous  and  over- 
hanging hills. 

On  the  southern  border  of  this  desert,  in  the  wilderness 
of  Ziph,  to  which  David  fled  from  Keilah,  with  six  hundred 
men.  (1  Sam.  xxiii.  13,  14,  15.)  This  also  abounds  in  hills 
and  caverns,  as  well  as  in  wild  beasts. 

South  of  Ziph  lies  the  wilderness  of  Moon,  where  David 
took  refuge,  when  the  Ziphites  had  betrayed  him.  (1  Sam. 
xxiii.  19,  24,  25.)  It  extends  to  the  mountains  of  Idumea^ 
and  is  intersected  by  many  deep  ravines. 

V.  To  the  west  of  the  deserts  just  described,  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  the  land  of  Israel,  lay  the  wilderness 
of  Beer-sheba,  in  which  Hagar  wandered  when  she  was 
expelled  from  her  master's  house.   (Gen.  xxi.  14.) 

VI.  The  wilderness  of  Tekoa  was  also,  in  fact,  a  part  of  the 
wilderness  of  Judah,  which  lay  to  the  south-east  of  Jerusa- 
lem. Here  Jehoshaphat,  king  of  Judah,  defeated  the  re- 
bellious Ammonites  and  Moabites.  (2  Chron.  xx.  20.) 
Here,  too,  Jonathan,  the  Maccabee,  took  refuge,  when 
Bacchides,  the  general  of  the  king  of  Syria,  sought  his  life. 
(1  Maccab.  ix.  33.) 

VII.  The  wilderness  of  Gibeon,  mentioned  2  Sam.  ii. 
24,  was,  no  doubt,  situated  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
city  of  Gibeon,  north-west  from  Jerusalem. 

VIII.  The  wilderness  of  Beth-aven,  is  mentioned,  (Josh. 


94  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

xviii.  12,)  as  forming  a  part  of  the  northern  boundary  of 
the  tribe  of  Benjamin. 

Palestine  is  not  now,  and  probably  never  has  been,  a 
very  woody  country.  There  are  few  forests  mentioned  in 
the  Bible.  When  the  Israelites  first  entered  Canaan,  the 
region  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim  was 
woodland;  as  appears  from  Josh.  xvii.  15 — 18,  where 
Joshua  advises  the  Ephraimites  to  fell  the  trees,  and  make 
room  for  their  settlements.  It  was  not  entirely  cleared, 
however ;  for  in  this  same  quarter  was  the  wood  in  which 
Jonathan  found  wild  honey ;  (1  Sam.  xiv.  22,  25 ;)  and  the 
battle  between  the  armies  of  David  and  Absalom,  "  was  in 
the  wood  of  Ephraim."     (2  Sam.  xviii.  6.) 

In  1  Sam.  xxii.  5,  we  read  that  David  fled  before  Saul, 
and  "  came  into  the  forest  of  Hareth,'^  in  the  land  of  Judah. 
Nothing  more  is  known  of  the  situation  of  this  forest. 

LAKES. 

I.  Near  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Holy  Land,  the 
river  Jordan  passes  through  a  small  marshy  lake,  called,  in 
Josh.  xi.  5,  6,  the  waters  of  Merom,  or  high  waters,  because 
situated  higher  than  the  other  lakes  of  Palestine.  Its  water 
is  slimy  and  considered  unwholesome ;  but  abounds  in  fish 
The  bed  of  this  lake  is  never  full,  except  in  the  spring  of 
the  year,  when  the  snow  melts  upon  Anti-Libanus.  At 
other  times,  the  greatest  part  of  it  is  dry,  and  produces 
reeds  and  other  shrubs,  among  which  a  multitude  of  ser- 
pents and  wild  swine  conceal  themselves.  Only  the  eastern 
shore  is  inhabited.  The  south-western  shore  is  called 
Melah,  i.  e.  Salt,  because  the  soil  is  there  covered  with  a 
saline  crust. 

II.  Further  south,  the  Jordan  flows  through  another 
lake  or  inland  sea,  called  in  some  parts  of  Scripture,  the  Sea 
of  Galilee,  (Matt.  iv.  18,  John  vi.  1,)  and  the  Sea  of 
Gennesaret,  (Mark  vi.  53,  Luke  v.  1,)  from  the  regions 
which  environ  it ;  in  others,  the  sea  of  Chinnereth,  or  Cin- 
neroth,  (Num.  xxxiv.  11,  Deut.  iii.  17,  Josh.  xii.  3,)  and 
the  sea  of  Tiberias,  (John  vi.  1,  xxi.  1,)  from  cities  of  that 
name  which  stood  upon  its  shores.  The  last  mentioned 
name  is  that  which  it  still  bears. 

There  is  no  other  part  of  Palestine  which  can  compare, 


PALESTINE.  9||i^ 

in  richness  and  beauty,  with  the  environs  of  this  lake.  In 
ancient  times,  its  natural  advantages  were  heightened  by 
assiduous  cultivation.  Many  populous  cities  once  stood 
upon  its  shores;  such  as  Tiberias,  Tarichaea,  Bethsaida, 
Capernaum,  Chorazin,  Hippo,  and  many  others,  which  are 
now  in  ruins.  Josephus  describes  this  region  as  a  perfect 
paradise,  blessed  with  a  delicious  temperature,  and  pro- 
ducing the  fruits  of  every  climate  under  heaven,  not  at 
stated  periods  merely,  but  in  endless  succession  throughout 
the  year.  The  neglect  of  agriculture  in  later  times,  has  of 
course  made  it  less  productive ;  but  the  mildness  of  the  cli- 
mate, and  the  native  richness  of  the  soil,  are  still  extolled 
by  travellers. 

The  river  Jordan  maintains  its  course  through  the  mid- 
dle of  the  lake,  and,  it  is  said,  without  mingling  its  waters. 
The  water  of  the  lake  is  of  considerable  depth,  and  uni- 
formly so,  without  any  shallows.  It  is  sweet  and  plea- 
sant to  the  taste,  and,  compared  with  that  of  the  marshy 
districts,  very  clear.  It  abounds  in  fish,  which  are  taken 
with  a  small  hand-net,  managed  by  one  man.  (See  Luke 
v.  .lohn  xxi.  1 — II.)  The  first  four  disciples  chosen  by 
our  Saviour,  (Peter,  Andrew,  James  and  John,)  were  fisher- 
men upon  the  sea  of  Galilee,  and  actually  fishing  when 
he  called  them.  (Matt.  iv.  18,  22.)  This  lake,  notwith- 
standing its  small  extent,*  is  very  stormy  ;  (see  Matt.  viii. 
23 — 27,  Mark  iv.  35 — 41,  Luke  viii.  22 — 25 ;)  a  circum- 
stance owing  probably  to  the  high  hills  by  which  it  is  sur- 
rounded. 

III.  About  seventy  miles  to  the  south  of  the  sea  of  Ga- 
lilee, the  Jordan  terminates  its  course  in  one  of  the  most 
extraordinary  lakes  in  the  world,  called  in  Scripture  the 
Salt  sea,  (Gen.  xiv.  3,  Num.  xxxiv.  12,)  from  the  na- 
ture of  its  waters ;  the  Sea  of  the  Plain,  (Deut.  iv.  49,) 
and  the  East  sea,  (Ezek.  xlvii.  18,  Joel  ii.  20,)  from  its 
geographical  position.  By  the  Greeks  it  was  called 
Asphaltites  from  the  great  quantities  of  bituminous  matter 
which  it  produces.  It  is  commonly,  however,  called  the 
Dead  sea,  from  the  fact  long  believed,  and  confirmed  by 

*  Mr.  Buckingham,  a  late  traveller  in  the  east,  after  accurate  measure- 
ment, gives  the  greatest  length  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee  at  from  12  to  15  miles, 
and  a  variable  breadth  of  from  6  to  9  miles. 


m 


9^  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

recent  observations,  that  no  animal  can  live  in  its  wa- 
ters and  no  vegetable  on  its  shores.*  The  Arabs  call  it 
the  Sea  of  Lot,  because  Lot  once  resided  in  this  region. 
(Gen.  xiii.  12.) 

The  space  now  occupied  by  the  Dead  sea  w^as  once  a 
fruitful  and  well-watered  plain,  called  the  Vale  of  Siddim, 
in  or  near  which  stood  the  cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah 
which  God  destroyed  on  account  of  the  wickedness  of  their 
inhabitants.  (Gen.  xiii.  10,  xix.  24.  25.)  The  shores  of 
this  sea  are  entirely  destitute  of  verdure. 

The  Valley  of  Salt,  at  the  southern  extremity,  has  been 
already  mentioned.  On  the  west  it  is  encircled  with  rocky 
barren  heights.  The  water  is  clear  and  bright,  but  saturated 
with  salt.  The  stones  on  the  margin  of  the  lake  are  all 
covered  with  a  saline  crust,  and  a  piece  of  wood  thrown 
into  it  is  instantly  coated  with  the  same.  No  fish  inhabit 
the  waters  of  this  sea,  those  which  enter  from  the  tributary 
streams  perish  instantaneously.  In  allusion  to  these  ex- 
traordinary facts,  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  (xlvii.  8 — 10,)  in 
predicting  the  future  renovation  of  the  face  of  nature,  ex- 
presses the  great  change  that  shall  take  place  by  declaring, 
that  the  wilderness  adjoining  the  Dead  sea  should  become 
a  fruitful  field.  The  peculiar  composition  of  the  water  of 
this  lake  causes  substances  to  float  upon  its  surface  which 
would  sink  in  any  other  water.  The  bottom  of  the  lake  is 
composed  of  a  black  slime,  offensive  to  the  smell  when 
stirred.  The  gravel  about  the  edges  is  black,  and  com- 
bustible, like  coal.  Towards  the  southern  end  of  the  lake 
there  is  a  ford,  passable  in  the  summer  months ;  which, 
however,  is  little  used,  as  the  water  is  so  impregnated  with 
salt  that  it  excoriates  the  body  of  the  passenger.  Accord- 
ing to  the  Arabs  who  reside  in  the  vicinity,  there  is  no 
perceptible  variation  in  the  height  of  the  water  at  different 
times. 

The  Deiid  sea  has  apparently  no  outlet.  Some  have 
supposed  that  it  communicates  by  subterraneous  channels 
with  the  Mediterranean,  others  that  it  flows  into  the  Red 
sea.  The  opinion  of  the  Arabs  is,  that  it  loses  its  waters 
by  evaporation ;  thick  clouds  being  often  seen  hanging  over 
it,  which  do  not  extend  beyond  the  water's  edge.  This 
lake  produces  asphaltos  a  bituminous  or  pitchy  substance, 

*  Scholz's  travels,  1821. 


PALESTINE.  97 

in  great  abundance,  though  not  at  all  times.  It  is  found 
in  large  cakes,  often  more  than  a  foot  thick  floating  upon 
the  surface. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  Dead  sea  a  tree  is  said  to  grow, 
bearing  apples  of  the  most  inviting  aspect,  which,  how- 
ever, when  divided,  are  found  empty,  or  filled  with  ashes. 
The  truth  of  this  account,  however,  is  disputed. 

IV.  We  learn  from  Jeremiah,  (xlviii.  32,)  that  the  vines 
of  Sibmah  reached  "  even  to  the  sea  of  Jazer."  Jazer  was 
a  city  of  the  Ammonites,  not  far  from  Philadelphia ;  (see 
p.  50 ;)  whose  ruins  are  still  visible,  and  some  ponds,  but 
no  lake  of  any  size. 

RIVERS  AND  BROOKS. 

The  most  considerable  river  in  the  Holy  Land,  and  in- 
deed the  only  one  that  deserves  the  name,  is  the  Jordan, 
which  flows  through  the  whole  length  of  the  country,  in  a 
straight  line  from  north  to  south.  Its  true  source  is  in  a 
rocky  basin,  120  paces  in  circumference,  called  by  the 
Greeks  Phiala  or  the  bowl,  and  supplied  by  three  unfailing 
springs.  This  reservoir  communicates  by  a  subterraneous 
passage,  with  a  grotto  north  of  Caesarea  Philippi,  from 
which  flows  the  Brook  Banias.  This  stream  uniting  with 
the  Dan  and  the  Hasbega,  brooks  which  rise  near  the  foot 
of  Mount  Hermon,  form  the  Jordan.  The  river  flows  on 
in  a  narrow  channel  for  some  distance,  till  it  enters  and 
passes  through  the  marshy  lake,  called  in  Scripture  the 
Waters  of  Merom  ;  a  few  miles  to  the  south  of  which,  there 
is  a  stone  bridge  of  four  arches,  called  the  Bridge  of  the 
Sons  of  Jacob.  At  this  spot,  according  to  the  tradition  of 
the  country,  Jacob  passed  over  Jordan,  on  his  return  from 
Mesopotamia.  (Gen.  xxxii.  10.)  A  few  miles  beyond  this 
bridge,  the  river  falls  into  the  sea  of  Galilee,  through  the 
middle  of  which  it  passes  undisturbed,  and  flows  out  at  the 
opposite  extremity,  near  the  ruins  of  Tarichaea.  It  then 
flows  about  seventy  miles  southward,  through  the  plain  of 
Jordan,  and  is  lost  in  the  waters  of  the  Dead  sea.  When 
it  first  leaves  the  sea  of  Galilee,  it  passes  through  a  deep 
valley,  the  verdure  and  fertility  of  which  present  a  striking 
contrast  to  the  arid  wastes  around.  This  delightful  spot, 
which  is  shaded  with  thick  groves,  and  enlivened  by  the 


98  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

song  of  nightingales,  is  called  in  Zeeh.  xi.  3,  and  else- 
where, the  pride  of  Jordan,  It  is  still  frequented  by  wild 
beasts,  and  was  once  a  resort  of  lions,  as  appears  from  Jer. 
xlix.  19,  1.  44,  where  of  the  predicted  destroyer  it  is  said, 
"  He  shall  come  up  like  a  lion,  from  the  swelling*  of  Jor- 
dan." Between  the  sea  of  Tiberias  and  the  Dead  sea,  the 
Jordan  receives  many  tributary  streams  both  from  east  and 
west,  which  render  its  course  so  rapid  that  it  is  scarcely 
possible  to  swim  across  it.  In  the  winter  it  completely 
overflows  the  deep  valley  in  which  it  is  imbedded,  though 
it  never  rises  to  the  level  of  the  great  plain  of  Jordan.  We 
read  in  Judges  iii.  28,  that  Ehud  took  possession  of  "the 
fords  of  Jordan,"  to  intercept  the  Moabites.  The  river  is 
now  fordable  in  many  places  in  the  summer ;  at  other  times 
in  very  few,  and  those  known  only  to  the  Arabs.  We  read 
in  Josh.  iii.  15,  (see  also  1  Chron.  xii.  15,)  that  the  "  Jor- 
dan overflows  all  his  banks  all  the  time  of  harvest,"  which 
in  Palestine  is  the  latter  part  of  March  and  the  whole  of 
April.  This,  however,  is  no  longer  the  case  ;  perhaps,  be- 
cause the  banks  of  the  river  are  now  higher. 

The  waters  of  the  Jordan  are  turbid,  being  charged  with 
a  black  bituminous  sediment.  When  drawn  off*,  however, 
in  vessels,  it  is  clear  and  bright,  as  well  as  pleasant  to  the 
taste,  and  may  be  kept  fresh  an  unusual  length  of  time. 
With  this  water  John  baptized  his  followers,  as  well  as 
Christ  himself,  (Matt.  iii.  16,  Mark  i.  10,  Luke  iii.  21, 
22,)  a  circumstance  which,  in  early  times,  occasioned  much 
superstitious  reverence  for  this  river.  Thousands  of  orien- 
tal Christians  have,  for  centuries,  thronged  annually  to  be 
washed  in  the  water  with  which  Jesus  was  baptized.  This 
practice  still  continues,  and  is  a  source  of  considerable  pro- 
fit to  the  Turkish  government,  who  exact  a  contribution 
from  every  pilgrim. 

The  whole  length  of  the  Jordan  is  about  100  miles  by  a 
straight  course  on  the  map,  and,  with  its  windings,  may  be 
computed  at  perhaps  150  miles.  Different  accounts  are 
given  by  travellers  of  its  breadth.  Maundrell  makes  it  20 
yards ;  Volney  60  paces  at  its  entrance  into  the  Dead  sea ; 
Chateaubriand,  at  the  same  place,  50  paces ;  Burckhardt 
80  paces ;  Buckingham,  who  crossed  near  Jericho,  in  the 
year  1815,  25  yards.     We  may  safely  take  the  average  at 

♦  The  same  word  that  is  translated  pride,  in  Zech.  xi.  3. 


PALESTINE.  99 

thirty  yards,  but  it  is  probable  that  no  river  of  so  little 
breadth  rolls  with  so  rapid  or  so  deep  a  current. 

II.  Of  the  minor  streams  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  the 
most  northerly  is  the  Kishon,  which  rises  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Tabor,  and  not  far  from  its  source  is  divided  into 
two  branches,  one  of  which  flows  eastward  into  the  Dead 
sea,  while  the  other,  which  is  the  largest,  and  to  which 
the  name  Kishon  is  commonly  applied,  takes  an  opposite 
direction,  and  after  receiving  in  its  course  supplies  from  all 
the  springs  and  brooks  of  Mount  Ephraim,  Samaria,  and 
the  plain  of  Esdrelon,  empties  itself  into  the  Bay  of  Acre, 
at  the  foot  of  Mount  Carmel.  The  mouth  of  this  stream  is 
often  choked  with  sand  during  the  summer  season,  in 
which  case  it  leaves  its  channel  and  forms  a  sort  of  lake. 
In  winter,  however,  the  water  is  so  high  that  it  is  danger- 
ous to  cross  it.  The  banks  of  this  stream  are  among  the 
most  beautiful  and  fertile  spots  in  Palestine. 

The  Kishon  is  remarkable  for  the  battle  between  Sisera 
and  Barak,  which  was  fought  upon  its  banks.  (Judg.  iv. 
7,  13.)  In  the  song  which  Deborah  composed  on  that  oc- 
casion, it  is  called  the  waters  of  Megiddo,  (Judg.  v.  19,) 
from  a  place  of  that  name,  near  which  it  flowed.  Here,  too, 
Elijah  slew  the  four  hundred  and  fifty  priests  of  Baal.  (1 
Kings  xviii.  40.)  The  Kishon  is  probably  "  the  river  be- 
fore Jokneam,"  mentioned  in  Josh.  xix.  11,  as  the  boundary 
between  the  tribes  of  Zebulon  and  Issachar. 

III.  The  brook  Kanah,  mentioned  (Josh.  xvi.  8,  xvii. 
9,  10,)  as  the  dividing  line  between  the  tribes  of  Ephraim 
and  Manasseh,  flows  from  east  to  west,  and  falls  into  the 
Mediterranean. 

IV.  The  brook  Cherith,  by  which  Elijah  dwelt,  (1  Kings 
xvii.  3,  5,)  rose  in  the  north-western  region  of  the  plain 
of  Jericho,  and  fell  into  the  Jordan,  to  the  east  of  the  city 
of  Samaria. 

V.  The  water  of  Jericho,  mentioned  in  Josh.  xvi.  1,  is  no 
doubt  the  same  with  the  river,  mentioned  Josh.  xv.  7. 
Its  source  was  a  spring  near  Jericho,  the  same,  according 
to  Josephus,  into  which  Elisha  cast  salt  and  healed  the 
water,  which  before  was  poisonous.  (2  Kings  ii.  19 — 22.) 


% 


100  OEOORAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

VI.  In  the  deep  valley  which  divides  Jerusalem  from 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  rises  the  brook  Kedron,  called  also 
Kidron  and  Cedron,  which  flows  towards  the  south,  and, 
after  many  windings,  falls  into  the  Dead  sea.  In  the  sum- 
mer time  it  is  almost  dry,  but  rises  above  its  bed  when 
swollen  with  the  winter  rains.  Over  this  brook  David 
passed,  when  he  fled  from  his  son  Absalom  ;  and  our  Lord, 
on  the  night  when  he  was  betrayed.  (2  Sam.  xv.  23,  John 
xviii.  1.)  It  is  also  mentioned,  in  1  Kings  xv.  13,  2  Chron. 
XV.  16,  XXX.  13,  14.  2  Kings  xxiii.  4,  6,  12. 

VII.  The  brook  Besor,  (i.  e.  the  cold  brook,)  is  only 
mentioned  in  1  Sam.  xxx.  9 — 11,  as  the  stream  over  which 
David  passed  in  pursuit  of  the  Amalekites,  who  had  robbed 
and  burnt  Ziklag.  All  that  we  know  of  its  situation  is, 
that  it  was  near  the  southern  boundary. 

VIII.  East  of  the  Jordan  there  are  two  brooks,  which 
are  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures.  The  Jabhok  is  first  men- 
tioned in  the  history  of  Jacob,  who  forded  it  on  his  return 
from  Mesopotamia  to  Canaan.  It  is  now  called  Zerka  or 
the  Blue  River.  It  rises  in  Mount  Gilead,  and  after  a 
course  of  a  few  miles,  flows  into  the  Jordan.  Its  bed  is  in 
a  remarkably  deep  valley  ;  but  the  stream  itself  is  very  in- 
considerable. It  was  formerly  the  boundary  between  the 
Ammonites  and  Amorites.  (Num.  xxi.  24,  Josh.  xii.  2, 
Judg.  xi.  13,  22.) 

IX.  The  most  considerable  stream  east  of  Jordan,  is  the 
Anion  now  called  Mujeb,  which  divides  Belkah  (once  the 
land  of  the  Amonites,)  from  Caracca,  (the  ancient  Moah.) 
(Num.  xxi.  13,  15,  Deut.  iv.  48,  Judg.  xi.  21,  22.)  This 
stream  was  the  southern  boundary  of  the  land  of  Israel, 
beyond  the  Jordan.  (Deut.  iii.  8.)  It  rises  in  the  mountains 
of  Arabia.  The  margin  of  the  brook  is  covered  with  ver- 
dure, but  beyond,  the  banks  rise,  on  either  side,  into  abrupt 
and  rugged  cliffs.  The  Arnon  is  almost  dry  during  the 
summer,  but  in  the  winter  is  an  impetuous  torrent. 

SPRINGS,  WELLS,  AND  CISTERNS. 

I.  When  Moses  (Deut.  viii.  7,)  calls  the  promised  land,  a 
land  of  brooks  and  fountainSy  he  means  in  comparison  with 


PALESTINE.  101 

Egypt  and  the  deserts  of  Arabia.  We  have  already  seen 
that  Palestine  has  but  one  large  river,  and  not  many  minor 
streams.  Nor  does  it  abound  much  more  in  springs.  The 
district  best  supplied  is  that  called  the  wilderness  of  John 
the  Baptist,  which  is  the  only  part  of  the  country  where 
there  are  gardens  naturally  well  watered.  Many  springs 
in  Palestine,  moreover,  are  completely  dry  in  summer,  to 
which  the  prophets  allude,  when  they  speak  of  waters  that 
fail.  (Jer.  xv.  18,  Isa.  Iviii.  11.)  This  natural  scarcity  of 
water  greatly  enhances  the  value  of  those  districts  which 
are  well  supplied.  In  such  districts  the  first  settlements 
would  of  course  be  made ;  and  hence  we  find  many  places 
mentioned  in  the  Scriptures  under  the  names  of  fountains 
near  which  they  were  situated  :  such  as  En-  Gedi,  (Josh. 
XV.  6'2,)  En-Gannin,  (Josh.  xxi.  29,)  En-Eglaim,  (Ezek. 
xlvii.  10,)  and  many  others,  in  all  which  the  first  syllable 
En  is  the  Hebrew  for  a  spring  or  fountain.  The  fountain 
in  Jezreel,  mentioned  1  Sam.  xxix.  1,  is  probably  the  same 
called  the  well  of  Harod,  in  Judg.  vii.  1.  and  Jacob's  well 
in  John  iv.  6,  11.  It  is  a  few  miles  south  of  Nablos,  (the 
ancient  Shechem,)  and  is  100  feet  deep.  The  Empress 
Helena  erected  a  magnificent  church  over  the  spot,  which 
has  entirely  disappeared.         ^ 

II.  The  want  of  springs  necessarily  led  to  the  digging 
of  wells.  Several  were  dug  by  Abraham,  in  the  land  of 
the  Philistines,  and  one  by  Isaac  in  the  valley  of  Gerar, 
where,  says  Moses,  they  found  a  well  of  springing-water. 
(Gen.  XX vi.  19.)  In  those  spots  where  water  could  not  be 
obtained  by  digging,  it  was  necessary  to  have  recourse  to 
cisterns,  for  the  preservation  of  rain-water.  These  were 
commonly  spacious  subterraneous  cavities,  with  a  narrow 
mouth,  which  was  generally  covered  over  and  concealed 
when  the  cistern  was  full.  Sometimes,  however,  the  water 
would  sink  into  the  earth  and  leave  the  cistern  dry,  as  was 
the  case  with  that  into  which  Joseph's  brethren  cast  hira. 
(Gen.  xxxvii.  '22,  24.)  In  the  Psalms,  deep  calamity  is 
often  likened  to  an  empty  cistern,  (translated  in  our  Bible 
pit.)  (Ps.  Iv.  23,  Ixxxviii.  6.)  In  old  decayed  cisterns,  the 
water  becomes  slimy,  or  dries  up  ;  on  which  circumstance, 
the  prophet  Jeremiah  founds  a  lively  metaphor,  (ii.  13.) 

III.  Not  far  to  the  south-east  of  the  Dead  sea,  there  is  a 


102  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

spot  which  has  long  been  famous  for  its  medicinal  warm 
springs.  It  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Callirho'e,  and  is  sup- 
posed by  some  to  have  been  discovered  by  Anah.  (See  Gen. 
xxxvi.  24,  where  the  word  translated  in  our  Bible  mules, 
also  means  warm  springs,  and  is  so  explained  in  some  of 
the  most  ancient  versions.)  These  springs  are  mentioned 
by  Josephus,  who  states,  that  Herod  drank  the  water  for 
his  health ;  and  by  Pliny,  who  describes  them  at  consider- 
able length.  There  are  also  medicinal  warm  springs  at  Ti- 
berias and  Gadara,  which,  however,  are  not  mentioned  in 
the  Scriptures. 

FERTILITY. 

The  Land  of  Canaan  is  called  in  Scripture,  a  land  flow- 
ing with  milk  and  honey;  (Ex.  iii.  8,  xiii.  5,  xxxiii.  3,  and 
elsewhere;)  a  good  land;  (Deut.  iii.  25;)  a/af  land;  (Neh. 
ix.  25,  35;)  sl  pleasant  land ;  (Ps.  cvi.  24,  Jer.  iii.  19;)  a 
glorious  land;  (Dan.  xi.  16,  41 ;)  and  the  glory  of  all  lands  ; 
(Ezek.  XX.  6.)  In  modern  times,  the  country  being  sub- 
jected to  the  Turkish  government,  and  principally  peopled 
by  Arab  tribes,  who  do  not  practise  agriculture,  no  longer 
wears  that  cultivated  aspect  which  entitled  it  to  the  de- 
scriptions given  in  the  passages  above  quoted.  Still,  how- 
ever, it  is  agreed  on  all  hands,  that  few  countries  in  the 
world  have  more  natural  advantages  than  Palestine,  and 
that,  with  proper  cultivation,  its  soil  would  produce  the 
fruits  of  every  climate  in  perfection.  And  even  now,  not- 
withstanding the  neglect  of  agriculture  on  the  part  of  the 
inhabitants,  some  regions  of  the  country  are  like  gardens  ; 
and  some  particular  commodities  are  furnished  in  such 
plenty  as  to  be  exported  constantly  to  foreign  parts.  Grain, 
pulse,  and  grapes,  are  especially  abundant.  It  is  worthy 
of  remark  too,  that  innumerable  herds  still  feed  upon  the 
verdant  hills  of  Galilee  and  in  the  rich  valleys  of  the  Jor- 
dan, while  vast  swarms  of  bees  make  their  cells  in  the  trees 
and  rocks  of  the  more  desert  regions ;  so  that  Palestine  still 
merits  its  ancient  appellation  of  a  land  flowing  with  milk 
,  and  honey. 

ORIGINAL  INHABITANTS. 

When  Abraham  emigrated  to  the  country  which  was 
afterwards  possessed  by  his  posterity,  it  was  occupied  by 


;^  PALESTINE.  103 

the  Canaanites.  (Gen.  xii.  6,  xiii.  7.)  These,  however, 
were  not  the  original  inhabitants.  Several  races  of  abori- 
gines are  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures,  as  having  been  ex- 
pelled or  exterminated  by  the  Canaanites. 

I.  The  Avim,  who  dwelt  in  the  south-west,  towards 
Gaza,  and  were  extirpated  by  the  Philistines,  a  colony 
from  Caphtor.  (Deut  ii.  23,  Jer.  xlvii.  4,  Amos  ix.  7.) 
(See  p.  73.)  Commonly  supposed  to  be  the  same  with 
Crete. 

II.  The  Horites,  or  dwellers  in  caves,  who  inhabited 
Mount  Seir,  (afterwards  called  Idumea.)  These  mingled, 
in  some  measure,  with  the  Canaanites,  but  were  afterwards 
destroyed  by  the  Edomites.  (Gen.  xiv.  6,  xxxvi.  20 — 30, 
Deut.  ii.  22.) 

III.  The  Rephaim  or  Giants,  so  called  from  their  extraor- 
dinary stature,  who  dwelt  in  the  eastern  part  of  Palestine, 
and  were  subdivided  into— 

1.  The  Emim,  whose  territories  were  afterwards  called 
the  land  of  Moab.  (Gen.  xiv.  5,  Deut.  ii.  9,  10.) 

2.  The  Zamzummim,  whose  territories  were  afterwards 
called  the  land  of  the  Ammonites.  (Deut.  ii.  20.) 

3.  The  Rephaim  of  Bashan,  beyond  the  Jordan,  over 
whom  Og  reigned,  in  the  days  of  Moses.  This  king,  we 
are  informed,  (Deut.  iii.  3,  &.c.)  possessed  threescore  cities 
fenced  with  high  walls,  gates,  and  bars  ;  besides  unwalled 
towns  a  great  many."  In  the  days  of  Abraham  these  Re- 
phaim were  conquered  by  Chedorlaomer  king  of  Elam. 
(Gen.  xiv.  5.)  They  were  afterwards  driven  out  and  de- 
stroyed, first  by  the  Ammonites  and  Moabites,  and  finally 
by  Moses.  (Deut.  iii.  3 — 16.) 

IV.  The  Anakim  or  sons  of  Anak,  who  were  also  of  gi- 
gantic stature,  occupied,  in  the  time  of  Moses,  the  region 
between  Hebron  and  Jerusalem.  They  were  at  first  an 
object  of  great  terror  to  the  Israelites.  (Deut.  ix.  1,  2.) 
Like  the  Rephaim,  they  were  subdivided  into  several  clans.^ 

1.  The  tribes  of  Ahiman,  Sheshai,  and  Talmai,  who 
dwelt  about  Hebron.  (Num.  xiii.  22.)  Hebron  was  of  old 
called  Arha,  from  a  great  man  among  the  Anakim.  (Joeh. 
xiv.  15.) 


104  l^'lDEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

2.  The  Anakim,  who  inhabited  the  mountainous  regions 
of  Debir  and  Anab,  and  who  were  destroyed  by  Joshua, 
(xi.  21.) 

3.  The  Anakim  of  Gaza,  Gath,  and  Ashdod,  in  the  land 
of  the  Philistines.  These  alone  remained  in  the  land  after 
the  entrance  of  the  Hebrews.  (Josh.  xi.  22.) 

V.  Moses  (Gen.  xv.  19,)  enumerates  the  Kenites  among 
the  nations  who  had  possession  of  Canaan  in  the  time  of 
Abraham.  At  an  early  period,  however,  they  appear  to 
have  been  driven  to  the  southern  border  of  the  Canaanites, 
and  mingled  with  the  Midianites.  (Judg.  iv.  2,  16.)  It 
appears  from  Num.  xxiv.  21,  22,  that  they  dwelt  in  the 
highlands  near  the  Ammonites  and  Moabites.  In  the  time 
of  Saul,  they  had  no  fixed  residence,  but  dwelt  among  the 
Amalekites.  (1  Sam.  xv.  6.) 

All  these  aboriginal  tribes  were  either  extirpated  by,  or 
embodied  with,  the  Canaanites  or  descendants  of  Canaan, 
the  son  of  Ham.  (Gen.  x.  6.)  Canaan  had  eleven  sons, 
(Gen.  x.  15,  19,)  from  whom  descended  eleven  different 
tribes,  called  after  their  names,  viz.  the  Sidonites,  the  Hit- 
tites,  the  Jebusites,  the  Amorites,  the  Girgasites,  the  Hi- 
vites,  the  Arkites,  the  Sinites,  the  Arvadites,  the  Zemarites, 
and  the  Hamatkites.  (See  p.  12.)  These  emigrated  at  an 
early  period  from  the  east,  and  took  possession  of  the  whole 
region  "  from  Sidon  unto  Gaza."  (Gen.  x.  19.)  Five  of 
the  tribes,  viz.  the  Sidonites,  the  Arkites,  the  Arvadites, 
the  Haraathites,  and  the  Sinites,  settled  in  Syria  and  Phoe- 
nicia ;  the  remaining  six  in  Canaan,  where  they  formed  a 
number  of  principalities  or  petty  kingdoms,  of  which  Joshua 
(xii.  9 — 24,)  enumerates  thirty-one. 

In  the  Scriptures,  we  find  these  people  mentioned  in  a 
variety  of  ways.  Sometimes  they  are  called  by  the  general 
name  of  Canaanites,  (Ex.  xiii.  11,  Deut.  xi.  30,  Josh.  xvii. 
13,  16,  18,)  sometimes  Canaanites  and  Perizzites,  (Gen. 
xiii.  7,)  which  last  word  signifies  Lowlanders  or  inhabitants 
of  the  plain.  Sometimes  two  of  the  particular  tribes  are 
mentioned  in  connexion  with  the  general  name  to  express 
the  whole,  (Ex.  xxiii.  28,)  sometimes  four,  (Ex.  xiii.  5,) 
sometimes  five,  (Ex.  iii.  8,  17,  xxxiii.  2,  xxxiv.  11,  Josh, 
xii.  8,)  sometimes  six,  (Deut.  vii.  1,  Josh.  iii.  10,  Acts 
xiii.  19.)  In  one  passage,  (Gen.  xv.  19 — 21,)  Moses  enu- 
merates ten  tribes  as  being  in  possession  of  the  promised 


'  PALESTINE.  105 

land,  viz.  the  Kenites,  and  the  Kenizzites  ;  the  Kadmarites, 
the  Hittites,  the  Perizzites,  and  the  Rephaini ;  tlie  Amor- 
ites,  the  Canaanites,  the  Girgashites,  and  the  Jebusites. 
Three  of  these,  however,  the  Kenites,  the  Kenizzites,  and 
Rephaim,  were  the  remains  of  old  aboriginal  tribets,  who  at 
the  time  of  Abraham's  migration  from  the  east,  had  coa- 
lesced with  their  Canaanitish  conquerors.  A  few  words  will 
now  be  necessary  in  relation  to  the  geographical  position 
occupied  by  the  six  tribes  of  Canaanites  who  settled  within 
the  bounds  of  Palestine 

I.  The  Hivites  dwe  t  in  the  north,  at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Hermon,  till,  with  the  other  northern  tribes,  they  were 
overthrown  by  Joshua;  (xi.  2,  3 ;)  nor  were  they  even  then 
wholly  expelled  ;  for  in  Judg.  iii.  3,  we  find  mention  of 
"  the  Hivites  that  dwelt  in  Mount  Lebanon,  from  Baal- 
Hermon  unto  the  entering  in  of  Hamath."  That  they  were 
not  exterminated  at  the  time  of  David,  appears  from  2  Sam. 
xxiv.  7,  and  I  Kings  ix.  20.  The  Shechemites  and  Gibeon- 
ites  were  also  Hivites,  as  we  learn  from  Gen.  xxxiv.  2,  and 
Josh.  xi.  19. 

II.  The  Jebusites  had  possession  of  the  mountainous  re- 
gion about  Jerusalem,  as  well  as  of  Jerusalem  itself,  which 
was  at  first  called  Jebusi  or  Jebus.  (Josh.  xi.  3,  xv.  8,  63, 
xviii.  28.)  The  Benjamites,  to  whom  this  region  was 
allotted,  "  did  not  drive  out  the  Jebusites  that  inhabited 
Jerusalem ;  but  the  Jebusites  dwelt  with  the  children  of 
Benjamin,  in  Jerusalem,"  until  David  took  possession  of 
the  city.  (2  Sam.  v.  6,  S.)  And  even  after  that  event,  the 
Jebusites  were  suffered  to  reside  there  unmolested,  as  we 
find  David  (2  Sam.  xxiv.  23,  ^,)  purchasing  of  Araunah, 
the  Jebusite  prince,  the  ground  upon  which  the  temple 
was  afterwards  erected. 

III.  The  Amorites,  in  the  time  of  Abraham,  dwelt  in 
Zezon-Tamar,  (Gen.  xiv.  7,)  afterwards  called  Engedi, 
west  of  the  Dead  sea,  and  south-west  of  Jerusalem.  After- 
wards, however,  they  extended  themselves  over  the  whole 
mountainous  region  in  the  south  of  Canaan,  between  the 
Mediterranean  and  the  Dead  sea,  which  was  on  that  ac- 
count called  the  mountain  of  the  Amorites,  though  it  after- 


106  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

wards  took  the  name  of  the  Mountains  of  Jiidah.  (Deut.  i. 
19,  20,  Num.  xiii.  29,  Josh.  xi.  3.) 

The  name  Amorites  is  sometimes  used  for  Canaanites  in 
general,  (Gen.  xv.  16,)  and  sometimes  in  a  more  restricted 
sense  fof  those  who  inhabited  the  mountains  of  the  south. 
(Josh.  X.  5,  6,  12.)  That  the  Amorites  had  extended  them- 
selves considerably  at  an  early  period,  is  apparent  from  the 
fact,  that  they  "  forced  the  children  of  Dan  into  the  moun- 
tain and  would  not  suffer  them  to  come  down  to  the  valley," 
and  that  they  "  would  dwell  in  Mount  Heres  and  Shade- 
bim,"  which  places  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  Ephraim. 
(Judg.  i.  34,  35.)  Before  the  time  of  Moses,  the  Amorites 
had  passed  the  Jordan,  and  founded  these  two  kingdoms, 
the  most  northerly  of  which  was  called  Bashan.  The  other 
at  first  reached  only  to  the  Jabbok  southward  ;  but  the 
Amorites,  under  their  king  Sihon,  crossed  that  stream,  and 
drove  out  the  Ammonites  and  Moabites  from  their  posses- 
sions. (Num.  xxi.  13,  24,  26,  xxxii.  33,  39,  Deut.  iv.  46, 
47,  xxxi.  4,  Josh.  ix.  10.)  After  this,  the  Jabbok  was 
the  southern  boundary  of  the  Amorites,  till  they  were  con- 
quered and  expelled  by  the  Israelites,  who  maintained  pos- 
session of  the  land,  notwithstanding  the  remonstrances  of  the 
Ammonites.  (Judg,  xi,  8.)  (See  p.  49.) 

IV.  The  Hittites  dwelt  near  Hebron,  in  the  time  of 
Abraham,  who  bought  a  cave  from  them  in  that  quarter. 
(Gen.  xxiii.  3 — 30,  xxv.  9,  10.)  Their  territory  seems 
also  to  have  reached  as  far  as  Beersheba;  for  while  Isaac 
was  residing  there,  Esau  married  two  Hittite  women.  (Gen. 
xxvi.  34,  xxvii.  46.) 

In  the  time  of  Moses,  as  we  learn  from  the  statement  of 
the  spies,  the  Hittites  dwelt  with  the  Amorites  in  the 
Mountains  of  Judah.  (Num.  xiii.  29.)  When  the  Israel- 
ites took  possession  of  the  land,  the  Hittites  appear  to  have 
removed  further  north ;  "for,  in  Judg.  i.  26,  the  region  about 
Bethel,  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  is  called  *'  the  land  of  the 
Hittites."  That  they  continued,  even  after  the  conquest,  to 
maintain  some  degree  of  independence,  appears  from  the 
facts,  that  Uriah  one  of  David's  generals,  was  a  Hittite ;  (2 
Sam.  xi.  3,  6 ;)  that  Solomon  was  the  first  who  made  the 
Hittites  tributary,  (1  Kings  ix.  20 ;)  that  he  had  Hittite 
women  among  his  wives  and  concubines  ;  (1  Kings  xi.  1 ;) 
and  finally,  that  in  the  books  of  Kings  (1  K.  x.  29,    2  K. 


PALESTINE.  107 

vii.  6,)  we  read  of  Kings  of  the  Hittites.  Even  after  the 
return  of  the  Hebrews  from  captivity,  we  find  (Ezra  ix.  1, 
2,)  the  Hittites  mentioned  among  the  nations  with  whom 
the  Jews  intermarried. 

V.  VI.  The  precise  location  ot  the  Zemarites  is  uncer- 
tain. The  Girgashites  dwelt  between  the  Hivites  and  the 
Jebusites.  The  name  Perizzites  is  applied  in  Scripture  to 
the  inhabitants  of  different  and  distant  regions.  Thus  in 
Gen.  xiii.  7,  it  denotes  those  who  dwelt  between  Bethel 
and  Ai ;  and  in  Gen.  xxxiv.  30,  the  inhabitants  of  Shechem 
and  the  surrounding  country.  In  Josh.  xvii.  15,  a  part  of 
the  terntory  of  the  children  of  Joseph  is  called  the  land  of 
the  Perizzites  ;  while  in  Judges  i.  4,  5,  we  find  them  resid- 
ing w  ithin  the  bounds  of  Judah.  It  is  probable,  therefore, 
that  it  is  not  the  proper  name  of  any  tribe,  but  signifies 
Lowlanders  or  dwellers  in  the  plain,  which  is,  in  fact,  the 
strict  meaning  of  the  word. 

The  Canaanites,  like  their  neighbours  the  Phenicians, 
appear  to  have  made  considerable  advances  in  refinement- 
and  the  arts.  Moses  (Deut.  vi.  10,  11,)  describes  the  land 
as  one  abounding  in  goodly  cities,  houses  full  of  all  good 
things,  wells,  vineyards,  and  olive-trees.  Like  the  Sy- 
rians and  Phenicians,  too,  they  could  not  form  one  body 
politic,  but  split  themselves  into  a  great  variety  of  petty 
principalities.  Their  government  appears  in  the  earliest 
times  to  have  been  aristocratical,  with  a  chief  of  very  limit- 
ed authority.  When  Abraham  wished  to  make  a  pur- 
chase from  Ephron  the  Hittite,  it  was  necessary  that  the 
bargain  should  be  made  in  an  assembly  of  the  people. 
(Gen.  xxiii.)  And  Hamor  the  Hivite  was  unable  to  make 
any  stipulation  with  the  sons  of  Jacob,  till  the  men  of 
Shechem  were  consulted.  (Gen.  xxxiv.)  Whether  the 
kings  of  Sodom,  Gomorrah,  Admah,  Zeboim,  and  Zoar, 
were  Canaanites,  is  now  uncertain.  In  the  time  of  Moses,' 
the  land  was  divided  into  thirty-one  principalities,  as  we 
read  in  Josh.  xii.  9.  Feuds  would  of  course  be  frequent 
among  these  numerous  communities;  and  in  Judg.  i.  7,  we 
find  Adoni-bezek  saying  :  "  Threescore  and  ten  kings,  hav- 
ing their  thumbs  and  great  toes  cut  off,  gathered  their  meat 
under  my  table."  Some  of  these  chiefs  appeared  to  have 
exercised  authority  over  others.  Thus  Adoni-zedek,  king 
of  Jerusalem,  when  he  heard  that  the  Gibeonites  had  made 


108  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

peace  with  Israel,  summoned  four  other  kings  to  march  witt 
him  against  Gibeon.  (Josh.  x.  1 — 4.)  And  immediately 
afterwards  Jabin,  king  of  Hazor,  did  the  same.  (Josh.  xi. 
1-3.) 

DIVISION'  OF  THE  LAND  AMONG  THE  TWELVE  TRIBES 
OF  ISRAEL. 

When  the  Israelites  took  possession  of  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan, it  was  divided  into  twelve  parts,  according  to  the 
number  of  the  tribes.  The  Levites,  however,  had  no  por- 
tion assigned  to  them  with  their  brethren,  except  forty- 
eight  cities,  scattered  through  the  territories  of  the  other 
tribes.  (Num.  xxxv.  2,  Josh,  xxi.)  Still,  the  number  was 
complete  ;  for  the  children  of  Joseph  were  divided  into  two 
tribes,  Ephraim  and  Manasseh  ;  because  Jacob  had  adopted 
both  the  sons  of  Joseph  and  admitted  both  to  equal  right 
with  his  own  children.  (Gen.  xlviii.  5,  xiv.  4.) 

According  to  the  command  received  by  Moses,  (Num. 
XX vi.  52 — 56,  Josh.  xiv.  2,)  the  whole  land  was  to  be  di- 
vided among  the  tribes  by  lot;  not  equally,  but  in  propor- 
tion to  their  strength  and  numbers.  This  mode  of  distri- 
bution, however,  was  adopted  in  relation  only  to  nine 
tribes  and  a  half.  For  before  the  conquest  of  the  country 
west  of  Jordan,  the  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad,  and  half  the 
tribe  of  Maneisseh,  settled  on  the  other  side.  (Num.  xxxii. 
Josh.  xiii.  7.)  This  arrangement  was  requested  by  the 
Reubenites  and  Gadites,  on  account  of  the  number  of  their 
flocks,  and  the  excellence  of  the  pastures  in  that  region. 
Their  request  was  granted,  on  condition  that  they  should 
assist  their  brethren  in  the  conquest  of  the  land  before  they 
took  up  their  abode  beyond  the  river.  (Num.  xxxii.  17, 
&c.)  As  we  find  no  mention  of  any  application  of  the 
same  kind  being  made  by  the  Manassites,  it  is  probable 
that  Moses  of  his  own  accord  assigned  to  half  of  them  their 
place  east  of  the  Jordan  ;  partly  because  the  Reubenites  and 
Gadites  were  not  numerous  enough  for  the  entire  occu- 
pation and  defence  of  that  large  region,  and  partly  because 
the  Manassites  had  assisted  largely  in  the  conquest  of  it. 
(Num.  xxxii.  39,  40.)  As  they  were  not  able,  however, 
to  expel  the  old  inhabitants  entirely,  (Josh.  xiii.  13,)  only 
half  the  tribe  could  be  provided  for  on  that  side  of  the 
river. 


PALESTINE.  109 

In  describing  the  geographical  position  of  the  tribes,  we 
shall  pursue  the  order  of  time  in  which  they  obtained  pos- 
session of  their  territories  ;  and  shall  therefore  begin  with 
the  two  tribes  and  a  half  who  settled  east  of  Jordan. 

I.  Of  these,  the  most  numerous  was  that  oi Reuben,  whose 
boundary,  as  we  read  in  Josh.  xiii.  15,  was  '•'  from  Aroer, 
that  is  on  the  bank  of  the  river  Arnon,  and  the  city  that 
is  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  [i.  e.  on  an  island  in  the  midst 
of  it,]  and  all  the  plain  by  [or  unto]  Medeba."  The  terri- 
tory of  this  tribe  was  divided  by  the  Arnon,  from  the  de- 
serts of  Arabia  on  the  east,  and  the  land  of  Moab  on  the 
south.  It  was  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Jordan,  and  on 
the  north  by  the  land  of  Gad.  This  region,  now  called 
JBelkah,  is  still  celebrated,  as  of  old,  for  the  richness  of  its 
pastures,  and  the  multitudes  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  goats, 
which  it  supports. 

In  Num.  xxxii.  3,  &.c.  and  Josh.  xiii.  16 — 20,  seven- 
teen cities  are  enumerated,  which  were  situated  within  the 
bounds  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  The  ruins  of  some  of 
these  places  are  still  visible,  and  retain  the  ancient  names. 
Among  these  are — 

1.  Elaleh,  (Num.  xxxii.  3,  37,  Isa.  xv.  4.  xvi.  9,  Jer. 
xlviii.  34,)  now  called  Elaal,  which  lies  in  ruins  on  the 
top  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  whole  plain,  and  abounds  in 
cisterns  and  the  foundations  of  old  houses. 

2.  Heshbon,  the  ancient  royal  city  of  the  Amorites,  (Num 
xxi.  26,)  now  called  Heshban,  near  which  are  wells  and 
ponds  hewn  out  of  the  solid  rock,  and  alluded  to  in  Sol. 
Song  vii.  4,  ("  thine  eyes  are  like  the  fish-pools  in  Hesh- 
bon.") This  city  is  mentioned  in  Josh.  xiii.  26,  xxi.  39, 
among  those  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Gad.  At  a  later  pe- 
riod, it  was  in  the  hands  of  the  Moabites.  (Isa.  xv.  4.  Jer. 
xlviii.  2.) 

3.  Baal-Meon,  (Josh.  xiii.  17,)  now  called  Mium. 

4.  Medaba,  (Josh.  xiii.  16,)  now  called  Madaba,  situated 
on  the  remains  of  an  ancient  well-paved  causeway.  There 
is  no  stream,  however,  in  the  neighbourhood.  Here  also 
are  ponds  and  reservoirs,  and  the  ruins  of  a  temple. 

5.  Kirjathaim,  (Josh.  xiii.  19,)  now  called  El  Thaim,  one 
of  the  oldest  cities  east  of  Jordan.  It  was  inhabited  in  early 
times  by  the  Emims  one  of  the  aboriginal  tribes.  (Gen.  xiv. 
5.)     It  was  afterwards  in  possession  of  the  Moabites,  and, 

A. 


■■?*-• 


110  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

having  suffered  much  in  war,  was  rebuilt  by  the  Reuben- 
ites,  who  seized  upon  it.  Shortly  before  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem  by  the  Chaldees,  it  was  again  taken  by  the 
Moabites.  (Jer.  xlviii.  23,  Ezek.  xxv.  9.) 

6.  Dibon  is  mentioned,  Josh.  xiii.  17,  among  the  cities 
of  Reuben  ;  but  in  Num.  xxxiii.  45,  is  called  Dibon-gad, 
because  rebuilt  by  the  children  of  Gad.  (xxxii.  34.)  In 
Isa.  XV.  9,  it  is  called  Dimon,  and  as  late  as  the  last  centu- 
ry was  called  by  both  names  indifferently,  the  letters  m  and 
b  being  interchangeable. 

7.  Aroer,  one  of  the  land-marks  of  the  tribe  of  R,euben, 
(Josh.  xiii.  25,)  now  called  Araair,  situated  on  the  brook 
Arnon.  There  was  another  city  of  this  name  on  the  Jab- 
bok,  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Gad.   (Josh.  xiii.  25.) 

8.  Jahaz,  (Isa.  xv.  4,)  where  Sihon  king  of  the  Amorites, 
was  overthrown,  (Num.  xxi.  23,  Deut.  ii.  32,)  must  have 
been  situated  on  the  borders  of  the  land  of  the  Amorites, 
towards  the  desert. 

II.  The  tribe  of  Gad  occupied  the  northern  part  of  the 
land  of  Gilead;  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  brook  Jabbok, 
on  the  west  by  the  Jordan,  and  on  the  south  by  the  terri- 
tory of  the  sons  of  Reuben.  This  region  is  said  (Joshua 
xiii.  25,)  to  have  been  half  the  land  of  the  children  of  Am- 
man, who  had  possessed  it  of  old,  until  dispossessed  by  the 
Amorites ;  but  were  so  far  from  relinquishing  their  claims 
upon  it,  that  they  formally  demanded  it  of  the  Israelites, 
three  hundred  years  after,  during  the  administration  of 
Jephthah,  (Judg.  xi.  26,)  who  rejected  the  claim,  on  the 
ground  that  the  Israelites  had  taken  the  land  from  the 
Amorites,  not  the  Ammonites. 

The  cities  of  this  region  are  called,  in  Joshua  xiii.  25, 
the  cities  of  Gilead,  i.  e.  of  Upper  or  North  Gilead — the 
southern  portion  belonging  to  Reuben. 

We  have  no  such  enumeration  of  the  cities  of  Gad,  as 
of  those  within  the  bounds  of  Reuben.  But  by  a  compari- 
son of  Joshua  xiii.  25 — 27,  with  Numbers  xxxii.  34 — 96, 
we  obtain  a  list  of  thirteen  fenced  cities  and  sheep-folds, 
(i.  e.  villages  occupied  by  herdsmen  and  shepherds,)  rebuilt 
by  the  Gadites. 

Aroer,  on  the  Jabbok,  is  described  in  Josh.  xiii.  25,  as 
lying  before  Rabbah,  the  capital  of  the  Ammonites.  It  is 
mentioned  in  2  Sam.  xxiv.  5,  where  we  read,  that  the  men 


PALESTINE. 


Ill 


whom  David  sent  to  number  Israel,  "  passed  over  Jordan, 
and  pitched  in  Aroer,  on  the  right  side  of  the  city  that 
lieth  in  the  midst  of  the  city  of  Gad,  and  towards  Jazer." 
This  river  of  Gad  was  the  Jabbok,  near  which  the  ruins 
of  Jazer  are  still  visible. 

The  ruins  of  Beth-nimrah  (Num.  xxxii.  36,)  now  bear  the 
name  of  Nimrein.  Beth-haran,  mentioned  in  the  same 
verse,  was  afterwards  called  Livias,  after  the  wife  of  Au- 
gustus Caesar,  and  Julias,  after  the  wife  of  the  Emperor 
Tiberius. 

Mahanaim,  or  the  host,  so  called  because  Jacob  here  saw^ 
a  host  of  angels,  (Gen.  xxxii.  2,)  lay  on  the  borders  of  Ma- 
nasseh,  upon  the  northern  bank  of  the  brook  Jabbok, 
and  was  one  of  the  cities  assigned  to  the  Levites  out  of  the 
tribe  of  Gad,  (Josh.  xxi.  38,  1  Chron.  vi.  80.)  This  city 
Ishbosheth,  the  son  of  Saul,  selected  as  his  royal  residence, 
after  his  father's  death,  (2  Sam.  ii.  8,  12,  29,)  and  in  it,  he 
was  murdered.  (2  Sam.  iv.  5 — 8.)  To  this  city,  also,  Da- 
vid fled  before  Absalom.  (2  Sam.  xvii.  24,  27,  1  Kings  ii. 
8.)  Here  resided  one  of  the  twelve  officers  appointed  by 
king  Solomon  to  provide  victuals  for  the  royal  household. 
(1  Kings  iv.  14.) 

Ramoth  Gilead,  or  Mizpah  in  Gilead,  (Judg.  xi.  29,)  was 
likewise  one  of  the  Levite  cities,  (Josh.  xxi.  38,  1  Chron. 
vi.  80,)  as  well  as  a  city  of  refuge.*  (Deut.  iv.  43.  Joshua 
XX.  8.)  It  was  situated  not  far  from  the  Jabbok,  about  fif- 
teen Roman  miles  south-west  of  Philadelphia,  or  Rabbah. 
This  city  was  the  residence  of  Jtphthah.  (Judg.  xi.  34.) 
It  was  taken  by  the  Syrians,  in  the  reign  of  Ahab  ;  and  was 
the  scene  of  a  battle  between  Ahab  and  the  king  of  Syria, 
in  which  the  former  was  mortally  wounded.  (1  Kings 
xxii.  29.) 

III.  The  territory  of  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh  lay  north 
of  that  of  Gad,  and  east  of  Jordan  ;  but  without  any  well- 
defined  limits  towards  the  north  and  east.  This  region  is 
called  in  Josh.  xiii.  30,  31,  all  Bashan  and  half  of  Gilead. 
The  word  Gilead  appears  to  have  been  used  in  a  wide 
sense,  to  denote  the  whole  region  north  of  the  Jabbok,  of 
course  including  Bashan,  which  is  indeed  called  in  Deut. 

*  For  an  account  of  the  nature  of  these  cities,  see  Nevin's  Antiquities, 
(Am.  S.  School  Union's  edition,)  vol.  1.  p.  257. 


112  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

iii.  13,  the  rest  of  Gilead.  This  name,  too,  appears  to 
have  been  applied  to  the  Manassites  themselves,  as  being 
the  inhabitants  of  the  country.  (Judg.  v.  17.) 

It  is  stated  in  Josh.  xiii.  30,  that  the  cities  of  Bashan 
were  threescore.  Of  these,  however,  only  two  are  there 
mentioned,  (v.  31,)  Edrei  and  Ashtaroth.  The  ruins  of  the 
former  still  remain,  under  the  name  of  Braa.  Ashtaroth 
is  probably  the  same  with  the  modern  Mezaraib,  a  town 
with  a  castle  on  the  great  route  of  the  pilgrims  from  Da- 
mascus to  Mecca. 

The  remaining  cities  of  Bashan  are  called  by  the  general 
name  of  the  towns  of  Jair,  (Josh.  xiii.  30,)  from  Jair,  who 
was  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  on  the  father's  side,  and  a  Ma- 
nassite  on  the  mother's.  This  name  was  given,  because 
Jair  took  possession  of  the  region,  on  the  invasion  of  the 
country.  (Num.  xxxii.  40,  41.  Deut.  iii.  12,  13,  14.) 

In  Judges  x.  3,  4,  however,  it  is  stated,  that  Abimelech 
was  succeeded,  as  judge,  by  one  Jair,  who  "  had  thirty 
sons  that  rode  on  thirty  ass-colts,  and  they  had  thirty  cities, 
which  are  called  Havoth-jair  unto  this  day,  which  are  in 
the  land  of  Gilead." 

Kenath,  mentioned  in  Num.  xxxii.  42,  1  Chron.  ii.  23, 
though  now  in  ruins,  still  bears  the  name  of  Kahiiat.  It  is 
situated  on  a  brook  of  the  same  name,  and  exhibits  the  re- 
mains of  splendid  edifices. 

Salcah,  mentioned  Deut.  iii.  10,  Josh.  xii.  5,  xiii.  11, 
1  Chron.  v.  11,  is  now  called  Salchat.  It  is  on  the  border 
of  the  wilderness,  and  has  a  round  tower  or  castle  on  the 
top  of  a  hill,  which  commands  a  very  extensive  view. 

After  the  death  of  Moses,  Joshua  having  brought  the 
children  of  Israel  across  the  Jordan,  and  carried  on  a  war 
with  the  inhabitants  of  Canaan,  with  unvarying  success  for 
seven  years,  proceeded  to  the  task  of  distributing  the  land 
among  the  tribes,  by  lot.  He  found,  however,  on  inquiry, 
that  the  extent  of  territory  already  conquered,  was  barely 
sufficient  for  two  tribes  and  a  half.  He,  therefore,  assigned 
portions,  at  this  time,  only  to  Judah  and  Ephraim,  and  the 
half  tribe  of  Manasseh.  (Josh.  xv.  1,  xvi.  1,  4.) 

IV.  The  portion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  was  the  southern 
extremity  of  Palestine,  and  occupied  the  whole  breadth  of 
the  country,  from  the  Jordan  to  the  sea.  It  was  bounded 
on  the  east,  by  the  Dead  Sea,  on  the  south  by  the  land  of 


PALESTINE.  113 

Edom  and  of  Amalek,  and  by  the  wilderness  of  Kadesh- 
Barnea,  which  formed  a  part  of  the  great  wilderness  of  Sin  ; 
on  the  west,  by  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  on  the  north,  by 
a  line  running  from  the  mouth  of  the  Jordan,  through  the 
valley  of  Achor,  Gilgal,  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  the  valley 
of  Rephaira,  Kirjath-jearim,  Beth-shemesh,  Zimnah,  and 
Ekron,  to  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  This  northern  boun- 
dary was  afterwards  somewhat  altered,  when  portions  were 
assigned,  in  that  quarter,  to  the  tribes  of  Benjamin  and  Dan. 
(Josh,  xviii.  11—28,  xix.  40—48.) 

The  cities  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Judah  are  enumerated 
in  Joshua  xv.  21 — 62,  where  they  are  divided  into  four 
classes.  1.  "The  uttermost  cities,  toward  the  coast  of 
Edom,  southward."  (t?.  21.)  2.  The  cities  "  in  the  valley y^ 
{v.  33,)  or  more  properly  the  p/ain  or  flat  country,  i.  e.  the 
Mediterranean  coast.  3.  The  cities  "  in  the  mountains," 
(r.  48,)  i.  e.  in  the  interior.  4.  The  cities  "in  the  wilder- 
ness," {v.  61,)  i.  e.  on  the  shore  of  the  Dead  sea. 

The  number  of  the  names  recorded  in  this  passage  is  125 ; 
but,  as  the  sums  stated  by  Joshua  himself  in  v.  32,  36,  41, 
44,  46,  51,  54,  57,  59,  60,  62,  amount  only  to  115,  it  is 
probable  that  some  of  the  places  mentioned  were  not  cities, 
but  merely  considerable  villages ;  which  is  rendered  more 
probable  by  the  expression  used  in  the  verses  just  referred 
to — "  cities  with  their  villages." 

Some  of  the  cities  here  enumerated,  though  situated 
within  the  bounds  of  Judah,  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
inhabited  by  Israelites.  Ashdod,  Gaza,  Askalon,  and 
Ekron,  continued  in  the  hands  of  the  Philistines.  We 
learn,  indeed,  from  Judg.  i.  18,  that  the  tribe  of  Judah  did, 
at  one  time,  seize  upon  the  last  three  mentioned.  But  they 
must  have  been  soon  retaken,  for  they  are  ever  after  men- 
tioned as  cities  of  the  Philistines. 

Subsequently,  a  part  of  the  territory  thus  assigned  to  the 
tribe  of  Judah,  was  allotted  to  Simeon  and  Dan,  as  will  be 
seen  hereafter. 

V.  It  appears  from  the  sixteenth  chapter  of  Joshua, 
(1 — 4,)  that  one  portion  was  originally  assigned  to  the 
"  children  of  Joseph"  in  common  ;  and  though  the  distinct 
moieties  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim  and  the  half  tribe  of  Ma- 
nasseh,  are  afterwards  laid  off,  (xvi.  5 — 10,  xvii.  1 — 11,) 
they  still  appear  to  have  been  somewhat  intermingled 
K  2 


114 


GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


Joshua  says  expressly,  (xvi.  9,)  that  there  were  "separate 
cities  for  the  children  of  Ephraim,  among  the  inheritance 
of  the  children  of  Manasseh."  And  again,  (xvii.  8,)  that 
"  Manasseh  had  the  land  of  Tappuah  ;  [i.  e.  the  region  about 
Tappuah  ;]  but  Tappuah  [itself]  on  the  border  of  Manasseh, 
belonged  to  the  children  of  Ephraim.  We  are  informed, 
however,  (Josh.  xvii.  9,  10,)  that  the  river  or  brook  j^a- 
nah,  was  the  boundary  between  Ephraim  and  Manasseh. 
"  Southward  it  was  Ephraim' s,  and  northward  it  was  Ma- 
nasseh's." 

Though  the  description  given  of  the  territories  of 
Ephraim  (Josh.  xvi.  5 — 8,)  is  somewhat  obscure,  we  gather 
from  it,  that  they  extended  to  the  north  of  Jericho  as  far 
as  the  brook  Kanah,  stretching  across  the  whole  breadth  of 
the  land,  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  Jordan  :   (xvi.  7.  8.) 

The  separate  portion  of  Manasseh  was  bounded,  on  the 
north,  by  the  land  of  Asher,  on  the  east  by  that  of  Issachar, 
on  the  south  by  the  brook  Kanah,  dividing  it  from  Ephraim, 
and  on  the  west  by  the  Mediterranean.  (Josh.  xvii.  7,  &c.) 
Within  this  territory,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  there 
were  some  cities  belonging  to  the  Ephraimites.  By  way 
of  compensation,  six  cities,  with  their  villages,  were  as- 
signed to  the  Manassites,  lying  within  the  bounds  of  Is- 
sachar and  Asher.  (Josh.  xvii.  11.)  But  "the  children  of 
Manasseh  could  not  drive  out  the  inhabitants  of  those  cities ; 
for  the  Canaanites  would  dwell  in  that  land.  Yet  it  came 
to  pass,  when  the  children  of  Israel  were  waxen  strong, 
that  they  put  the  Canaanites  to  tribute ;  but  did  not  utterly 
drive  them  out." 

After  the  children  of  Judah  and  Joseph  were  provided 
with  their  portions,  a  considerable  time  appears  to  have 
elapsed,  before  the  remaining  seven  tribes  were  located  and 
settled.  In  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  Joshua  (1 — 7,)  we 
read,  that  Joshua  assembled  the  people  at  Shiloh,  and  hav- 
ing set  up  the  tabernacle  there,  said  to  the  seven  tribes, 
"How  long  are  ye  slack  to  go  to  possess  the  land,  which 
the  Lord  God  of  your  fathers  hath  given  you?"  He  then 
proposed,  that  twenty-one  men  should  be  selected,  three 
from  each  of  the  unsettled  tribes,  to  make  a  survey  and  par- 
tition of  the  land  ;  which  measure  was  adopted.  From  the 
report  of  these  surveyors,  it  appeared  that  the  territory 
which  had  been  assigned  to  the  children  of  Judah  and  Jo- 
seph, was  too  great  in  proportion  to  the  residue  of  the  land. 


PALESTINE.  115 

and,  at  tae  same  time,  larger  than  they  needed  or  could 
occupy.  A  part  of  it  was,  therefore,  cut  off,  and  thrown 
into  the  common  stock,  which  was  now  to  be  distributed 
by  lot.  In  making  this  partition,  they  appear  to  have  de- 
termined, first,  by  lot,  the  region  in  which  the  tribe  should 
have  its  portion,  and  then  to  have  fixed  its  limits,  accord- 
ing to  the  quality  of  the  land,  and  the  population  of  the 
tribe. 

VI.  The  lot  fell  first  upon  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  who 
obtained  a  settlement  "between  the  children  of  Judah  and 
the  children  of  Joseph,"  (Josh,  xviii.  11,)  i.  e.  a  part  was 
taken  from  each  of  those  tribes,  to  make  up  the  portion  of 
the  Benjamites. 

Among  the  twenty  cities  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Ben- 
jamin, which  are  enumerated,  Josh,  xviii.  21 — 28,  we  find 
Jebusi,  which  is  Jerusalem.  This  place,  however,  was  not 
in  the  possession  of  the  Israelites,  till  the  time  of  David. 
(-2  Sam.  V.  6.) 

7%e  second  lot  came  forth  to  Simeon,  and  their  inheri- 
tance ivas  within  the  inheritance  of  the  children  of  Judah. 
(Josh.  xix.  1.)  There  was  not,  however,  any  particular 
district,  within  the  bounds  of  Judah,  allotted  to  the  Simeon- 
ites.  They  merely  possessed  nineteen  cities,  scattered 
through  the  territory  of  that  tribe.  These  are  enumerated, 
Josh.  xix.  2 — 7.  ,  In  the  reign  of  Hezekiah,  the  tribe  of 
Simeon  found  it  necessary  to  procure  additional  settlements, 
in  Mount  Seir,  south-east  of  Judah. 

VII.  The  boundaries  of  the  land  of  Zehulon  are  given  in 
Josh.  xix.  10 — 16 ;  but  as  the  situation  of  the  places  there 
mentioned  as  land-marks,  are  now  unknown,  the  precise 
location  of  this  tribe  is,  of  course,  uncertain.  From  a  com- 
parison of  the  limits  of  the  neighbouring  tribes,  however,  it 
is  probable  that  Zebulon  was  bounded  on  the  north  and^ 
west  by  Asher,  on  the  north-east  by  Naphtali,  and  extend- 
ed as  far  south  as  Mount  Tabor.  That  it  bordered  upon 
the  sea  of  Gennesaret,  is  evident  from  Matt.  iv.  13,  where 
Capernaum  is  said  to  be  upon  the  sea-coast,  in  the  border  of 
Zabulcm  and  Nephtalim.  Twelve  cities,  with  their  vil- 
lages, are  enumerated,  (Josh.  xix.  10 — 14,)  as  belonging  to 
the  tribe  of  Zebulon. 


116  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

VIII.  The  portion  of  Issachar  was  bounded,  on  the 
north,  by  that  of  Zebulon  ;  on  the  west,  by  that  of  Manas- 
seh  ;  on  the  south,  by  that  of  Ephraim  ;  on  the  east,  by  the 
river  Jordan.  The  district  thus  laid  off,  was  in  the  form 
of  a  triangle. 

Joshua  (xix.  18 — 22,)  enumerates  sixteen  cities  belonging 
to  the  tribe  of  Issachar.  These,  however,  were  probably 
only  the  most  considerable ;  as  two  of  the  cities  allotted  to 
the  Levites  within  the  bounds  of  Issachar  are  omitted  in 
this  list,  and  as  sixteen  would  scarcely  be  sufficient  for  a 
tribe  which  sent  above  64,000  men  to  war. 

IX.  The  territory  of  the  tribe  of  Asher  was  a  small  tract 
of  land  on  the  Mediterranean  coast ;  bounded,  on  the  east, 
by  Zebulon,  Issachar,  and  Naphtali.  Its  southern  extrem- 
ity was  a  little  to  the  south  of  Carmel ;  its  northern  not  far 
from  Sidon  in  Phenicia.  (Josh.  xix.  24 — 29.) 

Of  the  twenty -four  cities,  belonging  to  this  tribe,  some 
were  never  occupied  by  Israelites.  In  Judges  i.  31,  we 
find  seven  mentioned,  from  which  the  Canaanites  had  not 
been  driven  out. 

X.  To  the  tribe  of  Naphtali  was  assigned  a  narrow  tract 
of  land  reaching  from  the  land  of  Asher  on  the  west,  to 
the  Jordan  on  the  east.  On  the  south,  it  was  bounded  by 
the  tribe  of  Zebulon.  (Josh.  xix.  34.)  This  was  the  most 
northerly  of  all  the  tribes.  Within  its  bounds  was  the  city 
of  Dan,  commonly  used  in  Scripture  to  denote  the  northern 
extremity  of  Palestine.  It  is  not  indeed  mentioned  among 
the  cities  of  Naphtali,  in  Joshua  xix.  35 — 3S,  because  it 
belonged,  at  that  time,  to  the  Sidonians,  and  bore  the  name 
of  Laish.  It  was  afterwards  conquered  by  an  army  of  Dan- 
ites,  who  changed  its  name  to  that  of  their  own  tribe. 

XI.  The  last  and  least  portion  assigned,  was  that  of  the 
tribe  of  Dan.  Like  that  of  Benjamin,  it  lay  between  the 
territories  of  Judah  and  Joseph,  and  was  bounded  on  the 
east  by  the  land  of  Benjamin,  on  the  west  by  the  Mediter- 
ranean. 

The  Danites  do  not  appear,  at  any  time,  to  have  been  in 
full  possession  of  the  land  allotted  to  them.  Ekron,  one  of 
their  cities,  (Josh.  xix.  43,)  is  mentioned  (1  Sam.  v.  10,  ^ 
Kings  i.  2,)  as  a  city  of  the  Philistines.     And  we  read,  in 


PALESTINE.  117 

Judg.  i.  34,  35,  that  "the  Amorites  forced  the  children  of 
Dan  into  the  mountain  ;  for  they  would  not  suffer  them  to 
come  down  in  the  valley."  Before  the  tribe  of  Dan  had 
possession  of  tlieir  territory,  a  part  of  them,  as  we  have  al- 
ready mentioned,  took  the  city  of  Laish  on  the  northern 
frontier  of  the  Holy  Land.  (Judg.  xviii.) 

It  has  already  been  mentioned,  that  the  tribe  of  Levi  had 
no  part  of  the  land  assigned  to  them  as  their  exclusive  por- 
tion ;  but  were  allowed  forty-eight  cities,  with  the  adja- 
cent fields  for  the  pasturage  of  their  cattle,  lying  within  the 
limits  of  the  other  tribes  ;  each  of  which  gave  up,  for  this 
purpose,  more  or  less,  according  to  their  size  and  population. 
Most  of  these  places  were  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  sanc- 
tuary ;  and  thirteen  of  them,  (all  situated  in  the  tribe  of 
Judah  and  Benjamin,)  were  appropriated,  by  lot,  to  the 
priests.    (Josh.  xxi.  4,  &c.) 

DIVISION  OF  THE  LAND  UNDER  THE  KINGS  OF  JUDAH 
AND  ISRAEL. 

After  the  death  of  Solomon,  ten  of  the  tribes  threw  off 
their  allegiance  to  his  son,  and  established  a  new  kingdom, 
called  the  kingdom  of  Israel ;  while  the  tribes  which  ad- 
hered to  Rehoboam,  from  that  time  bore  the  name  of  the 
kinojdom  of  Judah.   (1  Kings  xii.  19,  20.) 

The  kingdom  of  Israel  comprehended  all  the  country 
east  of  Jordan,  and  the  northern  districts  on  the  other  side. 
The  kingdom  of  Judah  consisted  of  the  tribe  of  that  name, 
and  the  southern  part  of  the  land  of  Benjamin.  That  the 
northern  possessions  of  the  latter  tribe  belonged  to  the  new 
kingdom,  is  evident,  from  the  fact,  that  Bethel  and  Ramah, 
cities  of  Benjamin,  were  subject  to  the  authority  of  Jero- 
boam. (1  Kings  xii.  29,  xv.  17.)  On  the  other  hand,  such 
possessions  of  the  tribe  of  Simeon  as  lay  within  the  bounds 
of  Judah,  remained  in  the  possession  of  the  latter.  Thus, 
Beer-sheba,  Hormah,  Ziklag,  which,  in  Joshua  xix.  2 — 5, 
are  recorded  among  the  cities  of  Simeon,  are,  in  I  Kings  xix. 
3,  1  Sam.  xxvii.  6,  xxx.  30,  mentioned  as  belonging  to  the 
kingdom  of  Judah.  So  also  Zorah  and  Ajalon,  were  cities 
of  Dan,  (Josh.  xix.  41,  42,)  but  remained  in  the  possession 
of  the  kings  of  Judah.  (2  Chron.  xi.  10.) 

After  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  captivity  to  the  land 
of  their  fathers,  the  ancient  distribution  of  the  country 


118  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

among  the  twelve  tribes,  could  no  longer  be  kept  up.  Those 
who  availed  themselves  of  the  permission  granted  them  by- 
Cyrus,  to  return  to  Palestine,  were  principally  of  the  tribes 
of  Judah,  Benjamin,  and  Levi.  These,  it  is  true,  resumed 
their  ancient  possessions,  and  observed  their  ancient  limits. 
But  of  the  other  Israelites,  very  few  returned.  The  greater 
part  of  them  chose  rather  to  continue  in  the  land  where 
they  had  been  so  long  compelled  to  dwell.  The  few  who 
did  return,  settled  within  the  bounds  of  Benjamin  and  Ju- 
dah, and  amalgamated  with  them.  Besides,  during  the 
200  years  which  had  elapsed  since  the  ten  tribes,  were  car- 
ried into  captivity,  the  ancient  -land-marks  and  bounding 
lines  must  have  been  completely  obliterated  and  forgotten. 

It  has  been  inferred  from  Matt.  iv.  13,  that  the  ancient 
division  of  the  country  still  prevailed  in  the  time  of  Christ. 
It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  Evangelist  mentions  the 
situation  of  Capernaum  according  to  the  ancient  geographi- 
cal divisions,  merely  to  show  the  precise  correspondence  of 
the  fact  which  he  records,  with  the  prediction  of  the  prophet. 
And  leaving-  Nazareth,  he  came  and  dwelt  in  Capernaum, 
tvhich  is  upon  the  sea  coast,  in  the  borders  of  Zabulon  and 
Nephthalim.  That  it  might  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken 
by  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying,  The  land  of  Zabulon  and 
the  land  of  Nephthalim,  by  the  way  of  the  sea,  Galilee  of  the 
Gentiles,  <SfC. 

In  no  other  part  of  the  New  Testament  Js  the  situation 
of  any  place  described  by  a  reference  to  the  ancient  distri- 
bution of  the  land  among  the  tribes. 

DIVISIONS  OF  PALESTINE  UNDER  THE  ROMANS. 

How  Palestine  was  divided  while  subject  to  the  kings 
of  Persia,  we  have  now  no  means  of  ascertaining.  Under 
the  Syrian  kings,  the  region  west  of  Jordan  was  divided 
into  Judea,  Samaria,  and  Galilee;  which  division  was 
adopted  and  continued  by  the  Romans.  The  country  east 
of  Jordan  bore  the  Greek  name  Peraea,  derived  from  a 
preposition  which  signifies  beyond.  As  this  is  the  division 
recognised  in  the  New  Testament,  as  well  ashy  the  Greeks 
and  Romans,  by  Josephus,  and  by  some  of  the  early  Chris- 
tian writers,  we  shall  adopt  it  as  our  guide,  in  describing 
more  minutely  the  particular  parts  of  the  country.  In  so 
doing,  we  shall  begin  with  Peraea,  or  the  region  beyond 


PALESTINE.  119 

Jordan — then  proceed  to  the  districts  west  of  Jordan,  pass- 
ing from  north  to  south — 1.  Galilee,  2.  Samaria,  3.  Judea. 

I.  PERAEA. 

This  name  was  used  to  denote,  sometimes  the  whole  re- 
gion beyond  Jordan,  sometimes  a  particular  district  of  that 
region.  In  the  former  sense,  it  included  the  districts  of 
Trachanitis,  Ituraea,  Gaulanitis,  Auranitis,  Batanaea,  and 
Peraea  proper,  as  well  as  the  greater  part  of  Decapolis. 

1.  Trachonitis  derived  its  name  from  two  remarkable 
mountains,  called  by  the  Greeks  Trachones.  It  extended 
northward  to  the  district  of  Damascus,  and  southward  to  the 
city  of  Bostra.  It  was  bounded  on  the  west  by  Gaulanitis, 
on  the  east  by  Auranitis  and  the  deserts  of  Arabia. 

The  greater  part  of  Trachonitis  was  not  strictly  within 
the  bounds  of  Palestine.  It  is,  nevertheless,  a  proper  sub- 
ject of  sacred  geography,  as  it  is  mentioned  in  Luke  iii.  1, 
as  a  part  of  the  tetrarchy  of  Philip,  to  whom  it  was  left  by 
his  father  Herod  the  Great.  Herod  himself  had  obtained 
it,  together  with  all  the  northern  parts  of  Peraea,  from  the 
Romans,  on  condition  of  his  extirpating  the  robbers  by 
whom  it  was  infested. 

A  part  of  Trachonitis,  stretching  from  Damascus  west- 
wards, was  subject,  during  the  reign  of  the  latter  Syrian 
kings,  to  Lysanias,  an  independent  chief,  who  resided  at 
Abila.     This  region  .is  called,  in  Luke  iii.  1,  Abilene. 

2.  Ituraea  was  so  called  from  Jetur,  one  of  the  sons  of 
Ishmael,  (Gen.  xxv.  15,  1  Chron.  i.  31,)  by  whose  de- 
scendants it  was  once  inhabited.  In  the  time  of  Jotham, 
king  of  Judah,  an  attack  was  made  upon  this  people,  by 
the  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad,  and  the  half  tribe  of  Manas- 
seh,  residing  beyond  the  Jordan,  who  took  possession  of 
the  land,  and  obtained  much  spoil,  and  a  great  number  of 
captives.  {I  Ciuon.  v.  19.) 

3.  Gaulonitis,  so  called  from  the  ancient  city  of  Golan, 
(Deut.  iv.  43,  Josh.  xx.  8,  xxi.  27,)  was  the  north-western 
part  of  the  old  kingdom  of  Bashan.  It  was  bounded,  on 
the  north,  by  Mount  Hermon ;  on  the  east,  by  Auranitis ; 
on  the  south,  by  the  brook  Jarmuk ;  and  on  the  west,  by 


120  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

the  sea  of  Tiberias.     A  part  of  this  region  still  bears  the 
name  of  lolan. 

4.  Auranitis,  so  called  from  Hauran;  (Ezek.  xlvii.  16, 
18;)  was  bounded,  on  the  west  by  Trachonitis,  on  the 
south  by  Batanaea,  and  on  the  east  by  the  desert.  It  is 
now  called  Hauran. 

5.  Batanaea  was  the  southern  part  of  the  old  kingdom  of 
Bashan,  reaching  southward  to  the  Jabbok.  A  part  of  the 
region  still  bears  the  corrupted  name  of  El-Bottein, 

6.  Peraea,  properly  so  called,  was  very  nearly  the  same 
with  the  old  land  of  the  Ammonites,  afterwards  called 
Gilead.  It  lay  like  a  peninsula  between  three  streams, 
being  bounded,  on  the  north  by  the  Jabbok,  on  the  south 
by  the  Arnon,  on  the  west  by  the  Jordan. 

JDecapolis,  a  Greek  word,  signifying  the  ten  cities,  which 
is  mentioned,  Matt.  iv.  25,  Mark  v.  20,  does  not  denote  a 
district  of  country,  but  ten  detached  cities,  scattered  through 
an  extensive  region.  It  is  not  altogether  certain  what  ten 
cities  went  under  this  name.  The  most  probable  enumera- 
tion is  as  follows :  Scythopolis,  Hippo,  Gadara,  Dion,  Pe- 
lea,  Gerasa,  Philadelphia,  Kanatha,  Capitolias,  and  J?a- 
phana.  Only  one  of  these,  viz.  Scythopolis,  was  west  of 
Jordan  ;  so  that  all  the  rest  were  within  the  limits  of  Pe- 
raea. Most  of  them  belonged  in  early  times  to  the  half- 
tribe  of  Manasseh  ;  but  after  the  return  from  captivity,  the 
Jews  did  not  take  possession  of  them.  In  the  time  of 
Christ,  they  were  chiefly  inhabited  by  Greeks. 

The  places  situated  within  the  limits  of  Peraea,  (taking 
the  word  in  the  widest  sense,)  which  are  mentioned  in  the 
Scriptures,  are  the  following. 

1.  CcBsarea  Philippi,  near  the  foot  of  Mount  Hermon,  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  grotto,  in  which  the  river  Jordan  was 
supposed  to  rise.  This  grotto  was  regarded  by  the  heathen 
as  sacred  to  their  god  Pan.  Hence  the  city  went  also  by 
the  name  of  Paneas,  and  is,  at  this  very  time,  called  Banias. 
The  place  derived  its  name  of  Caesarea  Philippi,  from  Au- 
gustus Csesar,  to  whom  there  was  a  temple  consecrated 
here ;  and  from  Philip,  the  son  of  Herod  the  Great,  who 
built  the  city. 


PALESTINE.  121 

Tliis  city  is  mentioned  twice  under  this  name,  in  the 
New  Testament,  (Matt.  xvi.  13,  Mark  viii.  27,)  in  two 
different  accounts  of  the  same  occurrence. 

In  the  neighbourhoood  of  this  city,  the  conversation 
passed  between  Jesus  and  his  disciples,  in  which  Peter 
confessed  that  he  was  the  Son  of  God. 

It  is  a  very  old  tradition,  that  the  woman  whom  Christ 
healed  of  an  issue  of  blood,  (Matt.  ix.  20 — 22,  Mark  v. 
25 — 34,  Luke  viii.  43—48,)  was  a  native  of  Csesarea  Phi- 
lippi,  and  that  she  erected  a  brazen  monument  in  that  city 
in  token  of  her  gratitude. 

From  the  time  of  Constantine  the  Great,  Caesarea  Phi- 
lippi  was  a  Bishop's  see,  subject  to  the  Patriarch  of  Antioch. 
It  contains,  at  present,  about  two  hundred  houses,  and 
is  chiefly  inhabited  by  Turks. 

2.  Bethsaida,  a  village  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Jordan, 
near  the  point  where  that  river  enters  the  sea  of  Tiberias, 
was  enlarged  by  the  tetrarch  Philip  into  a  city,  and  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Julias,  in  honour  of  Julia,  the  daughter 
of  Augustus  Caesar.  In  the  New  Testament,  however,  it 
is  called  by  the  old  name  of  Bethsaida.  (Luke  ix.  10.)  To 
the  wilderness  near  this  city,  Jesus  retired,  after  the  death 
of  John  the  Baptist,  (ib.,)  and  there  fed  five  thousand  per- 
sons by  a  miracle.  (Luke  ix.  10 — 17.) 

There  was  another  Bethsaida  west  of  Jordan,  of  which 
we  shall  speak  hereafter.     (See  p.  129.) 

3.  Golan  appears  to  have  been  a  considerable  city,  as  it 
gave  name  to  a  district.  Nothing,  however,  is  now  known 
of  its  situation,  except  that  it  was  within  the  bounds  of  the 
old  kingdom  of  Bashan ;  for  which  reason  it  is  always 
called  in  the  Old  Testament  Golan  in  Bashan. 

It  was  one  of  the  places  allotted  to  the  Levites,  and  also 
one  of  the  cities  of  refuge.  (Deut.  iv.  43,  Josh.  xx.  8,  xxi. 
27,  1  Chron.  vi.  71.) 

4.  5.  Edrei  and  Ashtaroth  were  the  royal  cities  of  the. 
old  kingdom  of  Bashan.  Respecting  these  and  the  toums 
of  Jair,  see  p.  112. 

6.  Gadara,  the  metropolis  of  Peraea,  and  a  fortified  city, 
was  situated  south-west  of  Ashtaroth,  beyond  the  brook 
Jarmuk.  It  was  in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  and  now  lies  in 
ruins,  the  pavements  of  some  of  its  great  streets  being  still 
visible.  It  has  been  wholly  deserted,  on  account  of  the 
scarcity  of  water.     In  the  vicinity  are  famous  medicinal 


122  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

warm  springs,  frequented  by  multitudes  of  invalids,  from 
the  surrounding  country.  In  the  region  adjacent  to  this 
city,  (i.  e.  the  country  of  the  Gadarenes,)  Christ  healed  two 
men  possessed  with  unclean  spirits,  which  he  suffered  to 
enter  into  a  herd  of  swine.  (Mark  v.  1,  &c.  Luke  viii.  26, 
&c.  Matt.  viii.  28.) 

7.  Bozrah,  called  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans  Bostra, 
stood  about  24  Roman  miles  from  Edrei.  It  is  commonly 
spoken  of  in  the  Old  Testament,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  33,  Isaiah 
xxxiv.  6,  Ixiii.  1,  Amos  i.  12,  Jer.  xlix.  13,  22,)  as  the 
capital  city  of  Edom;  but  since  Jeremiah  mentions  it 
(xlviii.  24,)  as  a  city  of  the  Moabites,  it  is  probable  that  it 
was  first  taken  from  the  children  of  Ammon  by  the  Edom- 
ites,  and  afterwards  from  them  by  the  Moabites,  who  kept 
possession  of  it.  In  later  times  it  was  a  bishop's  see,  and 
afterwards  a  strong  hold  of  the  Nestorians.  Though  for 
the  most  part  in  ruins,  it  is  still  the  largest  place  in  Hau- 
ran  or  Auranitis. 

8.  Jabesh-gilead  (Judg.  xxi.  8,  9,  12,  14,  1  Sam.  xi.  1, 
xxxi.  12,  2  Sam.  ii.  4,  xxi.  12,)  was  situated,  probably,  on 
a  small  brook  still  called  Jabes,  which  empties  into  the  Jor- 
dan. In  the  time  of  the  judges,  all  the  inhabitants  of  Ja- 
besh,  except  four  hundred  virgins,  were  put  to  death,  be- 
cause they  would  not  join  with  the  rest  of  Israel,  in  the 
expedition  against  Benjamin.  (Judges  xxi.  8 — 14.)  The 
place,  however,  was  not  deserted ;  for  we  read,  in  1  Sam. 
xi.  1 — 4,  of  Saul's  delivering  the  inhabitants  of  Jabesh  from 
Nahash,  king  of  the  Ammonites,  who  required  that  their 
right  eyes  should  be  thrust  out ;  for  which  benefit  they 
showed  their  gratitude,  by  rescuing  the  bodies  of  Saul  and 
Jonathan,  when  exposed  by  the  Philistines.  (1  Sam.  xxxi. 
8—13.)  • 

9.  Mahanaim.     See  p.  112. 

10.  Lo'debar,  mentioned  2  Sam.  ix.  4,  5,  xvii.  27,  was 
probably  not  far  from  Mahanaim. 

11.  Penuel,  the  tower  of  which  Gideon  broke  down, 
(Judges  viii.  8,  9,  17,)  was  built  upon  the  spot  where  Ja- 
cob saw  God  face  to  face,  and  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
ofPeniel,  i.  e.  the /ace  of  God.  (Gen.  xxxii.  30.)  Jeroboam, 
the  first  king  of  Israel,  rebuilt  the  place.   (1  Kings  xii.  25.) 

12.  Succoth,  or  the  booths,  was  a  city  of  Gad,  (Josh,  xiii 
27,)  erected  on  the  spot  where  Jacob  "  built  him  a  house, 
and  made  booths  for  his  cattle,"  on  his  return  from  Meso- 


PALESTINE.  123 

potamia.  (Gen.  xxxiii.  17.)  The  inhabitants  of  this  city, 
as  well  as  those  of  Penuel,  refused  to  supply  Gideon  with 
provisions,  and  were  likewise  punished  by  him  on  his  re- 
turn. (Judg.  viii.  15.)  Near  Succoth,  the  vessels  for  Solo- 
mon's temple  were  cast.  (1  Kings  vii.  46.) 

13.  Ramoth'gilead.     See  p.  111. 

14.  Beth-nimrah.     See  p.  111. 

15.  Jazer.     See  p.  111. 

16.  Elaleh.     See  p.  109. 

17.  Heshbon.     See  p.  109. 

18.  Baal-meon.     See  p.  109. 

19.  Medeba.     See  p.  109. 

20.  Kirjathaim.     See  p.  109. 

21.  Dibon.     See  p.  110. 

22.  Aroer.     See  p.  110. 

23.  Jahaz.     See  p.  110. 

24.  Beth-abara,  or  the  Place  of  Passage,  a  ford  on  the 
Jordan,  is  mentioned,  John  i.  28,  as  the  place  where  John 
was  baptizing  beyond  Jordan.*  The  Beth-bara  mentioned 
in  Judges  vii.  24,  is  probably  a  contraction  for  Beth-abara, 

25.  Shittim  or  Abel-shittim,  one  of  the  places  where  the 
Israelites  sojourned  so  long  before  they  entered  Canaan, 
was  situated  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Jordan,  opposite  to 
Jericho.  (Num.  xxv.  1,  xxxiii.  48,  49,  Mic.  vi.  5.)  It 
belonged  first  to  the  Moabites,  and  afterwards  to  the  tribe 
of  Reuben.  From  this  place,  Joshua  sent  two  spies  to 
Jericho.   (Josh.  ii.  1.) 

26.  Beth-jesimoth,  or  the  House  of  the  Desert,  which  is 
mentioned  with  Abel-shittim,  in  Numbers  xxxiii.  49,  was 
situated  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  Dead  Sea,  (Josh.  xii. 
3,)  south-east  from  Jericho.  It  passed  from  the  possession 
of  the  Moabites  into  that  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben  ;  but  when 
the  latter  was  carried  into  captivity  by  the  Assyrians,  the 
Moabites  regained  possession  of  it,  for  which  reason  it  is 
mentioned  among  the  cities  of  Moab,  Ezekiel  xxv.  9. 

27.  Bezer,  one  of  the  Levite  cities,  and  also  a  city  of  re- 
fuge, stood  within  the  bounds  of  Reuben.  (Josh.  xx.  8,  xxi. 
36,  Deut.  iv.  43.)    Its  precise  situation  is  uncertain. 

*It  is  the  opinion  of  modern  critics,  that  Beth-abara,  in  this  passage, 
u  a  mistake  in  the  text  for  Bethany ;  and  as  the  Bethany  mentioned  by 
John  (xi.  18,)  cannot  be  the  one,  they  suppose  that  there  was  another  of 
the  same  name,  east  of  Jordan,  and  directly  opposite  to  the  wilderness  of 
Jencho, 


1^  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

28.  Kedemoth  was  also  one  of  the  Levite  cities  within 
the  limits  of  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  (Joshua  xiii.  18,  xxi 
37,  1  Chron.  vi.  79.)  From  the  wilderness  of  Kedemoth 
(i.  e.  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Kedemoth)  Moses  sent  mes- 
sengers to  Sihon,  king  of  the  Amorites,  to  obtain  permission 
to  pass  through  his  territories.   (Deut.  ii.  26.) 

29.  Mephaath,  which  is  mentioned  in  connexion  with 
Kedemoth  and  Bezer,  (Josh.  xiii.  18,  xxi.  37,  1  Chron.  vi. 
79,)  was  probably  contiguous  to  both  of  them.  In  later 
times,  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Moabites.  (Jer. 
xlviii.  21.) 

30.  Sibmah  (Num.  xxxii.  38,)  was  not  far  from  Heshbon. 
It  belonged  to  Reuben  ;  but  after  the  captivity  was  retaken 
by  the  Moabites.  (Josh.  xiii.  19,  Isa.  xvi.  8,  9,  Jer.  xlviii. 
32.)     The  surrounding  region  abounded  in  wine. 

31.  Nebo,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mount  Nebo,  now 
called  Mount  Attarus,  derived  its  name  from  an  idol  of 
that  name,  to  whom  there  was  a  temple  consecrated  there. 
(Isa.  xlvi.  2.)  It  was  taken  by  the  tribe  of  Reuben  from 
the  Moabites,  (Num.  xxxii.  38,)  and  retaken  by  the  latter. 
(Isa.  XV.  2.  Jer.  xlviii.  1,  22.)  There  was  another  place 
of  the  same  name  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  (Ezra  ii.  29, 
Neh.  vii.  33.) 

II.  GALILEE. 

The  name  Galilee  was  given  to  the  northern  part  of  the 
land  of  Israel  west  of  Jordan.  The  region  so  called  waa 
bounded,  on  the  north,  by  Anti-Libanus ;  on  the  east,  by 
the  Jordan  and  the  Sea  of  Galilee ;  on  the  south,  by  a  line 
drawn  from  the  plain  of  Esdrelon,  through  the  brook  Kishon 
and  Mount  Tabor,  to  Scythopolis  on  the  Jordan ;  and  on 
the  west,  by  a  tract  of  sea-coast  reaching  from  Carmel  to 
Tyre,  and  belonging  to  Phenicia. 

This  province  was  divided  into  Upper  and  Lower  Galilee, 
the  former  lying  to  the  north,  and  the  latter  to  the  south. 
In  Upper  Galilee,  there  settled,  at  an  early  period,  many 
emigrants  from  Syria,  Phenicia,  and  Arabia,  not  professing 
the  Jewish  religion ;  for  which  reason  it  is  called  in  Isaiah 
(ix.  ],)  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles.  The  whole  of  Galilee  was 
less  than  Judea,  and  not  much  larger  than  Samaria ;  being 
but  twenty  leagues  long,  and  about  ten  broad.  From  the 
words  of  Christ;  (I^uke  xiii.  33,)  "I  must  walk  [or  travel] 


PALESTINE. 


125 


to-day,  and  to-morrow,  and  the  day  following,"  &c.,  some 
have  inferred  that  the  part  of  Galilee  where  Christ  was  at 
that  time,  was  distant  three  days  journey  from  Jerusalem. 

The  whole  of  Galilee,  but  especially  the  part  contiguous 
to  the  sea  of  Tiberias,  is  described  by  travellers  as  a  coun- 
try very  rich  and  luxuriant,  though  no  longer  cultivated 
with  the  same  zeal  and  diligence  as  in  former  times. 

On  the  division  of  Palestine  among  the  twelve  tribes, 
Galilee  fell  to  the  lot  of  Issachar,  Asher,  Zebulon,  and 
Naphtali.  In  the  reign  of  Pekah,  king  of  Israel,  the  Jew- 
ish inhabitants  were  carried  into  captivity  by  Tiglath  Pi- 
leser,  king  of  Assyria.  (2  Kings  xv.  29.)  Those  who 
availed  themselves  of  the  permission  given  by  Cyrus  to  re- 
turn to  their  own  land,  for  the  most  part  settled  in  Judea. 
Some,  however,  settled  in  Galilee  among  the  foreigners  and 
gentiles,  who  had  been  planted  there  by  the  Assyrians, 
and  amalgamated  with  them.  This  mixed  race,  however, 
was  always  regarded  with  aversion  and  contempt,  by  the 
purer  Hebrews  of  Judea.  This  explains  such  expressions 
as  the  following :  Can  there  any  good  thing  come  out  of 
Nazareth  ?  (John  i.  46.)  Search  and  look,  for  out  of  Gali- 
lee ariseth  no  prophet.  (John  vii.  52.)  And  they  were  all 
amazed,  and  marvelled,  saying  one  to  another.  Behold,  are 
not  all  these  which  speak,  Galileans  ?  (Acts  ii.  7.)  The 
Galileans  were  also  distinguished  from  the  Jews,  by  their 
corrupt  dialect,  and  incorrect  pronunciation.  Hence  the 
servants  of  Caiaphas  said  to  Peter — Thou  art  a  Galilean, 
and  thy  speech  agreeth  thereto.  (Mark  xiv.  70.  See  also 
Matt.  xxvi.  73.) 

As  Galilee  was  the  country  where  Joseph  and  Mary 
dwelt,  (Matt.  xiii.  55,  iv.  21,)  where  Jesus  was  brought 
up — where  he  began  to  teach — where  he  called  his  first 
disciples,  (Matt.  iv.  13,  23,  Mark  i.  39,  Luke  iv.  44,  viii. 
1,  xxiii.  5.)  and  where  he  commonly  resided,  (John  vii.  1,) 
Christ  himself,  and  his  followers,  were  called  Galileans ; 
(Acts  i.  11;)  which  name  was  long  continued,  as  an  ex- 
pression of  contempt,  among  Jews  and  Gentiles. 

To  Galilee  belonged  the  tract  of  land  given  by  Solomon 
to  Hiram,  king  of  Tyre,  containing  twenty  cities  ;  (1  Kings 
ix.  11;)  to  which  Hiram  gave  the  name  of  the  land  of 
Cabul.  This  district  was  on  the  north-west  border  of 
Galilee,  and  extended  as  far  north  as  Tyre. 
l2 


126  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


TOWNS,  &c.  OF  GALILEE. 


The  most  remarkable  places  of  Galilee,  which  are  men- 
tioned in  the  Scriptures,  are  as  follows,  beginning  at  the 
north  :— 

1.  Dan  is  often  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  as  the  northern 
extremity  of  the  land,  and  the  place  from  which  the  alarm 
was  given,  when  the  country  was  threatened  with  invasion 
by  the  Syrians.  (Jer.  iv.  15,  16,  viii.  16.)  It  was  origi- 
nally a  Sidonian  colony,  under  the  name  of  Laish  or  Le- 
shem;  and  was  situated  not  far  to  the  west  of  Paneas  or 
Caesarea  Philippi.  The  tribe  of  Dan,  finding  their  allotted 
portion  insufficient,  a  part  of  them  emigrated  to  the  northern 
frontier,  and  seized  upon  Laish,  to  which  they  gave  the 
name  of  Dan.  (Josh.  xix.  47,  Judg.  xviii.  7.) 

Dan  appears  to  have  been,  from  early  times,  a  seat  of 
idolatrous  worship.  The  Danite  emigrants,  who  took  pos- 
session of  it,  established  there  an  image  which  they  had 
stolen  from  Micah  ;  (Judg.  xviii. ;)  and  Jeroboam,  when  he 
made  his  golden  calves,  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  peo- 
ple from  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  set  up  one  in  Bethel,  and 
the  other  in  Dan,  (1  Kings  xii.  28,  29,)  the  two  extremi- 
ties of  his  dominion. 

2.  We  read  in  Numbers,  (xiii.  21,)  that  the  spies,  sent 
out  by  Moses,  "searched  the  land,  from  the  wilderness  of 
Zin  unto  Rehob.'^  This  Rehob  is  probably  the  same  with 
Beth-rehob  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Dan.  (Judg.  xviii.  28.) 
It  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  28,)  who, 
however,  were  unable  to  drive  out  the  old  inhabitants. 
(Judg.  i.  31.)  From  Josh.  xix.  30,  it  would  seem,  that  there 
was  another  place  of  the  same  name,  at  no  great  distance. 

3.  Berothah  is  mentioned  (Ezekiel  xlviii.  16,)  as  one  of 
the  places  situated  on  the  northern  frontier  of  the  land  of 
Canaan. 

4.  Kedesh  in  Galilee  in  Mount  Naphtali,  (Josh.  xx.  7,) 
or  Kedesh-naphtali,  (Judg.  iv.  6,)  so  called,  to  distinguish 
it  from  other  places  of  the  same  name,  was,  at  first,  the  seat 
of  one  of  the  petty  kings  enumerated  Joshua  xii.,  and  after- 
wards a  Levite  city  and  a  city  of  refuge,  (Joshua  xx.  7,  xxi. 


PALESTINE.  127 

3*2,)  within  the  bounds  of  Naphtali,  situated  between  Tyre 
and  Ctesarea  Philippi.  It  was  the  residence  of  Barak, 
(Judg.  iv.  6,)  and,  in  later  times,  one  of  the  first  places  laid 
waste  by  Tiglath  Pileser.  (-2  Kings  xv.  29.)  The  name 
Kedesh  signifies  holy,  which  may  account  for  the  number 
of  places  so  called. 

5.  Hazor,  situated  east  of  Kedesh,  was  the  seat  of  Jabin, 
one  of  the  petty  kings  enumerated  Josh.  xii.  22 ;  who  ap- 
pears, from  Joshua  xi.  10,  to  have  been  "the  head  of  all 
those  kingdoms."  Accordingly,  he  summoned  several  of 
the  inferior  chiefs  to  combine  with  him  in  resisting  the  in- 
vasion of  the  Hebrews.  Joshua,  however,  conquered  him 
completely,  burnt  Hazor,  and  put  the  inhabitants  to  the 
sw^ord.  (Josh.  xi.  1 — 13.)  A  hundred  and  twenty  years 
later,  we  read  of  another  "  Jabin,  king  of  Canaan,  [or  the 
Canaanites,]  who  reigned  in  Hazor,  the  captain  of  whose 
host  was  Sisera."  (Judg.  iv.  2.)  By  him  the  children  of 
Israel  were  oppressed,  till  the  Lord  raised  up  Deborah  and 
Barak  to  deliver  them,  who  conquered  Sisera.  (4 — 16.) 

By  Solomon,  Hazor  was  fortified,  (1  Kings  ix.  15,)  as  a 
defence  against  invasion ;  yet  w^as  one  of  the  first  places 
taken  by  Tiglath  Pileser.  (2  Kings  xv.  29.) 

6.  Harosheth  of  the  Gentiles  was  probably  not  far  from 
Hazor.  Here  Sisera  resided.  (Judg.  iv.  2.)  Here  he  mus- 
tered his  troops  before  the  battle,  (13,)  and  here  he  was 
pursued  by  the  enemy  after  his  defeat.  (16.) 

7.  Achshaph  was  the  capital  of  a  petty  kingdom  when 
Joshua  invaded  Canaan.  (Josh.  xii.  20.)  It  afterwards  fell 
to  the  lot  of  the  tribe  of  Asher.  (Josh.  xix.  25.)  Its  pre- 
cise situation  is  unknown. 

8.  Achzib  was  one  of  the  cities  within  the  bounds  of 
Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  29,)  from  which  they  were  unable  to 
drive  out  the  old  inhabitants.  (Judges  i.  31.)  It  is  now 
called  Zib,  and  is  situated  on  a  hill  near  the  sea-coast,  north 
of  Ptolemais.  Another  Achzib,  in  Judah,  is  mentioned 
Josh.  XV.  44,  and  Mic.  i.  14. 

9.  Accho  was  also  one  of  the  cities  from  which  the  tribe 
of  Asher  was  unable  to  expel  the  Canaanites.  (Judg.  i.  31.) 


128  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

In  later  times  it  was  called  Ptolemais,  from  Ptolemy,  king 
of  Egypt,  who  seized  upon  it  about  100  years  before  the 
birth  of  Christ.  Under  this  name  it  is  mentioned  repeat- 
edly in  the  Apocrypha,  (1  Mac.  v.  15,  x.  1,  39,  xi.  2^,  24, 
xii.  54,  58,)  and  once  in  the  New  Testament.  (Acts  xxi. 
7.)  The  emperor  Claudius  constituted  Ptolemais  a  Roman 
colony.  In  the  seventh  century  it  was  conquered  by  the 
Saracens  or  Arabs.  In  the  eleventh  century,  it  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Egyptian  sultans,  and  suffered  many  vicissi- 
tudes of  fortune  during  the  crusades,  which  began  about 
that  time,  being  taken  and  retaken  by  the  Christians  and 
Mohammedans  alternately,  to  both  of  whom  it  was  impor- 
tant, on  account  of  its  fine  harbour.  At  the  end  of  the 
twelfth  century,  it  became  the  seat  of  an  order  of  knights, 
called  the  Knights  of  St.  John,  who  afterwards  removed  to 
Cyprus,  then  to  Rhodes,  and  finally  to  Malta.  From  this 
circumstance,  the  city  was  called  by  the  French  St.  Jean 
d'Acre,  or  Saint  John  of  Acra,  a  corruption  of  the  old  name 
Accho.  At  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century,  when  the 
Christians  were  driven  out  of  Palestine  by  the  Egyptians, 
this  was  the  last  place  which  they  abandoned.  Since  that 
time,  it  has  never  flourished  as  of  old.  It  still  has,  how- 
ever, fifteen  thousand  inhabitants,  is  surrounded  with  deep 
ditches  and  high  walls,  and  contains  the  ruins  of  many  an- 
cient edifices.  It  is  situated  on  a  plain  encircled  with 
mountains,  that  on  the  south  side  being  Mount  Carmel, 
already  described.  (See  p.  81.)  To  the  plain  in  which  it 
stands,  and  to  the  neighbouring  bay,  it  gives  its  name.  In 
our  own  times,  this  place  has  been  noted  for  the  brave  and 
successful  defence  of  it,  by  the  Turks  and  English,  when 
besieged  by  Bonaparte. 

10.  Jokneam  of  Carmel  [i.  e.  at  the  foot  of  Carmel,]  was 
another  of  the  thirty-one  petty  principalities  destroyed  by 
Joshua,  (xii.  22.)  It  was  within  the  bounds  of  Zebulon, 
but  belonged  to  the  Levites.  (Josh.  xxi.  34.)  It  was  situ- 
ated south  of  Ptolemais,  near  the  bay. 

11.  Cinnereth  or  Cinneroth,  a  town  of  Naphtali,  (Josh. 
xix.  35,)  was  situated  at  the  north-western  extremity  of 
the  sea  of  Galilee,  to  which  it  sometimes  lends  its  name. 

I.  xi.  2,  xii.  3.)     See  p.  87. 


PALESTINE.  129 

12.  Capernaum,  which  is  no  where  mentioned  in  the 
Old  Testament,  but  repeatedly  in  the  Gospels,  is  said,  by 
Matthew,  (iv.  13,)  to  have  been  "  upon  the  sea-coast,  in 
the  borders  of  Zabulon  and  Nephthalim."  (See  p.  118.) 
Here  Jesus  spent,  for  the  most  part,  the  three  years  of  his 
public  ministry ;  for  which  reason  it  is  called  by  Matthew 
^ix.  1,)  his  own  city.  Here  he  performed  many  wonder- 
ful works,  and  taught  often  in  the  synagogue.  (John  vi.  59.) 
Here  he  healed  Peter's  wife's  mother ;  (Matt.  viii.  14 ;) 
the  nobleman's  son  ;  (John  iv.  47 ;)  the  centurion's  ser- 
vant, (Matt.  viii.  56,)  and  the  ruler's  daughter,  (ix.  23 — > 
25.)  In  the  time  of  Christ  this  city  was  very  flourishing, 
by  means  of  its  tishery  and  commerce.     It  is  now  in  ruins. 

13,  14.  Chorazin  and  Bethsaida,  also  mentioned  in  Matt, 
xi.  21,  22,  24,  Luke  x.  13 — 15,  as  places  where  Jesus 
had  wrought  mighty  works,  were  also  situated  on  the  sea 
of  Galilee,  though  their  precise  location  is  no  longer  known. 
Bethsaida  was  the  residence  of  Andrew,  Peter,  and  Philip. 
(John  i.  44.)  In  John  xii.  21,  it  is  called  Bethsaida  of 
Galilee,  to  distinguish  it  from  another  Bethsaida  beyond 
Jordan.  (See  p.  121.) 

15.  Magdala,  to  which  Christ  retired  after  feeding  the 
four  thousand  upon  seven  loaves,  (Matt.  xv.  39,)  was  situ- 
ated on  the  sea  of  Galilee,  south  of  Capernaum.  To  this 
place  belonged  the  woman  mentioned  Mark  xv.  40,  xvi.  9, 
Luke  viii.  2 ;  who  is,  therefore,  called  Mary  Magdalene^ 
i.  e.  Mary  of  Magdala. 

16.  Still  further  south,  upon  the  same  side  of  the  lake, 
stands  Tiberias  ;  so  called,  in  honour  of  the  emperor  Tibe- 
rius, by  Herod  Antipas,  who  built  the  place,  and  made  it 
the  capital  of  Galilee.  This  is  the  Herod  whom  Luke 
(iii.  1,)  calls  Tetrarch  of  Galilee;  who  beheaded  John  the 
Baptist,  (Matt.  xiv.  3-— 11,)  and  who  sought  the  life  of 
Christ  himself.  (Luke  xiii.  31.)  He  resided,  probably,  in 
Tiberias  himself;  which  may  be  the  reason  that  the  Sa- 
viour never  visited  the  place.  When  the  Romans  made 
war  upon  the  Jews,  this  place  surrendered  without  waiting 
for  a  siege.  On  account  of  this  timely  submission,  the 
Jews  of  Tiberias  remained  unmolested,  and  that  city  after-^ 
wards  became  a  celebrated  seat  of  Jewish  learning. 


130  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

In  early  times,  Tiberias  was  a  bishop's  see.  In  the 
seventh  century,  it  was  taken  by  the  Saracens  ;  and  though 
it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Christians  at  the  time  of  the 
Crusades,  it  returned  to  the  possession  of  the  Mohamme- 
dans, near  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century. 

It  is  now  called  Tabaria,  and  is  still  a  considerable  place. 
It  is  chiefly  inhabited  by  Turks,  though  there  are  some 
Christians  resident  there,  and  several  hundred  families  of 
foreign  Jews,  who  enjoy  perfect  religious  liberty.  The 
town  is  situated  on  a  plain,  surrounded  by  hills.  It  is  ex- 
cessively hot,  and  very  unhealthy. 

17.  Cana  of  Galilee,  where  Jesus  performed  his  first  re- 
corded miracle,  (John  ii.  I — 11,)  is  still  a  neat,  though  poor 
village,  a  few  miles  north  of  Nazareth.  It  is  under  the 
government  of  a  Turkish  officer,  but  is  chiefly  inhabited  by 
Christians.  The  inhabitants  point  out  a  house  to  strangers, 
as  the  very  one  in  which  the  water  was  turned  to  wine ; 
and  also  the  ruins  of  a  church,  built  here  by  the  empress 
Helena  fifteen  hundred  years  ago. 

18.  Gath-hepher,  (or  Gittah-hepher,)  so  called,  to  distin- 
guish it  from  other  places  called  Gath,  was  the  birth-place 
of  the  prophet  Jonah,  (2  Kings  xiv.  25,)  and  belonged  to 
the  tribe  of  Zebulon.  (Josh.  xix.  13.)  It  was,  probably, 
situated  in  the  land  of  Hepher,  mentioned  1  Kings  iv.  10. 

19.  Nazareth,  now  called  Naserah,  where  the  mother  of 
Jesus  dwelt,  and  where  he  himself  spent  his  early  life, 
from  which  circumstances  he  derived  the  title  of  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  (Mark  xvi.  6,  Matt.  xxi.  11,  Luke  xxiv.  19, 
John  i.  46,  Acts  ii.  22,  &c.,)  is  situated  to  the  south  of 
Cana,  partly  in  a  valley,  and  partly  on  the  declivity  of  an 
adjacent  hill.  A  hill  is  to  this  day  pointed  out  on  the 
south  of  Nazareth,  as  the  one  from  which  the  people  of 
the  place  attempted  to  precipitate  the  Saviour.  (Luke  iv. 
29.)  After  the  expulsion  of  the  Europeans  from  the  Holy 
Land,  about  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century,  this  place 
gradually  dwindled  into  insignificance,  until  the  year  1620, 
when  the  Roman  Catholics  obtained  permission  from  the 
emir  of  the  Druses  to  rebuild  the  church  of  the  Annuncia- 
tion, which  had  fallen  to  ruins.  From  that  time  the  town 
increased,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  important  places  in 


PALESTINE.  131 

the  pachalic  of  Acca.  The  Christian  inhabitants  of  Naza- 
reth enjoy  a  degree  of  toleration  unknown  elsewhere  in 
Syria  or  the  Holy  Land. 

In  this  place  there  is  a  Franciscan  convent  rebuilt  in 
1730.  Within  its  walls  is  the  church  of  the  Annunciation, 
erected,  it  is  said,  upon  the  spot  where  Mary  received  from 
the  angel  the  annunciation  of  the  birth  of  Christ.  (Luke  i. 
31.)-  This  is  the  finest  church  in  the  country,  excepting 
that  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  in  Jerusalem.  On  the  south 
side  of  the  town  there  is  another  church,  said  to  be  built 
upon  the  site  of  the  synagogue  in  which  the  Saviour  taught. 
(Luke  iv.  16.)  Here,  too,  the  people  pretend  to  show  the 
very  house  inhabited  by  Joseph,  and  the  well  from  which 
the  Virgin  Mary  drank. 

The  inhabitants  of  Nazareth  are  said  to  diiFer  from  the 
other  people  of  the  country,  both  in  personal  appearance, 
and  in  speech. 

20.  Daberath,  a  city  of  the  Levites,  in  the  land  of  Is- 
sachar,  (Josh.  xix.  12,  xxi.  28,)  is  probably  the  same  with 
the  modern  Dabury,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Tabor. 

21.  A  mile  or  two  south-west  of  Nazareth,  are  shown 
the  ruins  of  Endor,  a  town  belonging  to  Manasseh,  but 
within  the  bounds  of  Issachar,  (Josh.  xvii.  11. — Seep.  116,) 
near  which  Barak  defeated  Sisera.  (Judges  iv.  Ps.  Ixxxiii. 
10,  11.)  Here  dwelt  the  woman  that  had  a  familiar  spirit, 
of  whom  Saul  went  to  inquire  when  forsaken  by  the  Lord. 
(1  Sam.  xxviii.  7 — 25.)  A  cave  is  still  pointed  out  to  tra- 
vellers as  the  one  which  she  inhabited. 

22.  The  "  city  called  Nain,''  at  the  gate  of  which  Jesus 
raised  the  widow's  son  to  life,  (Luke  vii.  11 — 15,)  is  now 
a  small  village,  not  far  from  Endor,  southward  from  Mount 
Tabor,  inhabited  by  Jews,  Mohammedans,  and  Christians 

23.  A  little  to  the  south  of  Nain,  stood  Shunem,  another 
of  the  towns  of  Issachar.  (Josh.  xix.  18.)  Here  the  Philis- 
tines encamped,  before  the  battle  in  which  Saul  was  slain. 
Here,  in  later  times,  dwelt  the  woman  with  whom  Elisha 
lodged  on  his  journeys  from  Gilgal  to  Mount  Carmel,  (2 
Kings  iv.  8 — 37,)  and  whose  son  he  raised  from  the  dead. 
The  account  of  this  miracle  given  after  Elisha's  deatl-  by 


132  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

his  servant  Gehazi  to  the  king,  was  the  occasion  of  the  res- 
toration of  the  widow's  lands.  (2  Kings  viii.  1 — 16.)  From 
this  place,  too,  came  Abishag  (for  that  reason  called)  the 
Shunamite.   (1  Kings  i.  3,  ii.  17,  21,  22.) 

24.  Aphek,  another  town  of  Issachar,  near  which  the 
battle  was  fought  in  which  Saul  and  Jonathan  were  slain, 
(1  Sam.  xxix.  1,  xxviii.  4,)  was  situated  on  the  plain  of 
Jezreel  or  Esdrelon. 

There  was  another  Aphek  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  on  the 
northern  frontier  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  near  Mount  Leba- 
non, (Josh.  xiii.  4,  xix.  30,  Judges  i.  31,)  in  which  quar- 
ter there  is,  at  the  present  day,  a  village  called  Aphka. 
This  is  probably  the  place  mentioned  in  1  Kings  xx.  26 — 34. 
Which  of  these  Apheks  is  the  one  recorded  in  Josh.  xii. 
18,  cannot  now  be  ascertained. 

25.  Megiddo  (Josh.  xii.  21,)  was  also  a  city  of  Manasseh, 
within  the  bounds  of  Issachar,  situated  on  or  near  the  brook 
Kishon.  (Josh.  xii.  11. — See  p.  99,  114.)  Solomon  fortified 
the  place,  (1  Kings  ix.  15,)  and  assigned  it  as  the  residence 
of  one  of  his  purveyors ;  (iv.  12.)  Two  kings  of  Judah, 
Ahaziah  and  Josiah,  died  in  battle  at  Megiddo.  (2  Kings  ix. 
27,  xxiii.  29.) 

26.  Taanach  is  repeatedly  mentioned  in  connexion  with 
Megiddo,  (Joshua  xii.  21,  xvii.  1 1,  Judges  i.  27,  v.  19,  1 
Kings  iv.  12,  1  Chron.  vii.  29,)  very  near  to  which  it  no 
doubt  stood.  It  was  within  the  bounds  of  Issachar,  but 
assigned  to  the  Manassites  ;  who,  however,  were  unable  to 
expel  the  old  inhabitants.  (Judg.  i.  27.)  Afterwards  it  was 
given  to  the  Levites.  (Josh.  xxi.  25.) 

III.  SAMARIA.     ^ 

The  name  Samaria  was  originally  applied  to  a  hill, 
which  Omri,  king  of  Israel,  bought  of  one  Shemer,  and 
built  a  city  upon  it,  which  he  also  called  Samaria.  (1  Kings 
xvi.  24.)  This  city  became  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of 
Israel.  We  find  the  name  used,  however,  to  denote  a  re- 
gion of  country,  in  1  Kings  xiii.  32,  and  2  Kings  xvii.  24, 
26,  &/C.,  in  which  sense  it  is  constantly  employed  by  latej 
writers. 


PALESTINE.  133 

The  region  bearing  this  name,  was  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  plain  of  Esdrelon  in  Galilee,  on  the  east  by  the  Jor- 
dan, on  the  south  by  a  district  of  Judea,  and  on  the  west 
by  a  narrow  strip  of  land,  belonging  also  to  Judea,  and  di- 
viding Samaria  from  the  sea. 

The  most  important  places  in  Samaria,  which  are  men- 
tioned by  the  sacred  writers,  are  the  following : — 

1.  Beth-shean,  a  town  belonging  to  Manasseh,  within 
the  bounds  of  Issachar,,  (Josh.  xvii.  11. — See  p.  114,)  from 
which,  however,  the  Manassites  were  unable  to  expel  the 
Canaanites.  (Josh.  xvii.  12,  Judg.  i.  27.)  In  the  time  of  Saul, 
this  place  belonged,  probably,  to  the  Philistines,  as  they 
there  exposed  his  body.  (1  Sam.  xxxi.  10.)  Afterwards, 
however,  it  must  have  become  subject  to  the  king  of  Judah, 
as  it  is  included  among  Solomon's  dominions.  (1  Kings  iv. 
12.)  Beth-shean  was  situated  on  the  borders  of  Galilee 
and  Samaria,  upon  the  edge  of  the  great  plain  of  Jordan, 
where  the  ground  begins  to  rise  from  a  level  into  mountain- 
ous elevations.  The  Greeks  called  it  Scythopolis.  (See  p. 
117.)     It  is  now  in  ruins. 

2.  Jezreel,  a  town  of  Issachar,  (Josh.  xix.  18,)  was  situ- 
ated on  the  plain  of  the  same  name.  (See  p.  88.)  It  was 
one  of  the  places  over  which  Ishbosheth,  Saul's  son,  reigned, 
after  his  father's  death.  (2  Sam.  ii.  9.)  Before  the  battle 
of  Gilboa,  in  which  Saul  was  slain,  the  Israelites  encamped 
"by  a  fountain*  in  Jezreel."  (1  Sam.  xxix.  1.)  The  bat- 
tle took  place  at  no  great  distance,  so  that  the  first  news  of 
the  catastrophe  reached  Jezreel.  (2  Sam.  iv.  4.) 

Ahab,  king  of  Israel,  and  Joram,  his  successor,  both  re- 
sided in  Jezreel.  (1  Kings  xviii.  44 — 46,  xxi.  1.)  At  Jez- 
reel, Jezebel  the  wife  of  Ahab,  and  Joram  his  son,  were 
filain  by  Jehu.  (2  Kings  ix.  33,  viii.  29,  ix.  15,  24.) 

3.  Dothan,  the  place  where  Joseph  was  sold  by  his  bre- 
thren, (Gen.  xxxvii.  17,)  and  where  the  Syrian  troops  at- 
tempted to  seize  Elisha,  (2  Kings  vi.  13—23,)  was  situated 
not  far  from  Beth-shean  and  Jezreel,  at  a  narrow  pass 
through  the  mountains  of  Gilboa,  leading  into  Judea. 

*  On  the  same  spot  the  Crusaders  encamped,  A.  D.  1183,  when  about 
to  engage  with  Saladin. 

M 


134  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

4.  The  city  of  Samaria  was  built  by  Omri,  king  of  Is- 
rael, after  the  burning  of  the  palace  at  Tirzah,  on  a  hill 
which  he  purchased  from  a  man  named  Shemer.  (1  Kings 
xvi.  18,  24.)  This  city  was  the  metropolis  of  the  ten  tribes, 
or  the  kingdom  of  Israel,  as  Jerusalem  was  of  the  kingdom 
of  Judah.  Thus  we  read  in  the  books  of  Kings,  that  such 
and  such  persons  ''reigned  over  Israel,  in  Samaria."  (1 
Kings  xvi.  29,  2  Kings  iii.  1,  xiv.  23,  xv.  23,  &c.)  Here  too 
they  were  buried.  (1  Kings  xvi.  28,  xxii.  37,  &lc.)  Hence 
the  language  of  Isaiah,  (vii.  8,  9,)  "The  head  of  Syria  is 
Damascus,  and  the  head  of  Ephraim  [i.  e.  Israel]  is  Sama- 
ria." We  learn  from  2  Kings  x.  2,  that  Samaria  was  a 
fenced  or  fortified  city.  It  was  twice  besieged  by  Ben-Ha- 
dad,  king  of  Syria,  without  success.  (1  Kings  xxi.  1 — 20, 
2  Kings  vi.  24,  fcc.  vii.  6,  7.)  It  was  taken,  however, 
by  Shalmeneser,  king  of  Assyria,  after  a  siege  of  three 
years.  (2  Kings  xviii.  9,  10.)  After  this  period,  it  ex- 
perienced many  vicissitudes,  passing,  by  turns,  through 
the  hands  of  the  Syrians  and  the  Romans ;  but  did  not 
regain  its  ancient  splendour  till  the  time  of  Herod  the 
Great,  who  enlarged  and  adorned  it,  and  increased  its 
population  by  introducing  sixteen  thousand  emigrants. 
Among  the  public  edifices  which  he  built,  was  a  temple  to 
Augustus  Caesar,  from  which  the  city  obtained  the  Greek 
name  Stbaste,  corresponding  to  the  Latin  Augusta.  The 
city  has  now  almost  wholly  disappeared.  It  was  situated 
in  a  valley  surrounded  by  hills.  The  soil  was  very  rich, 
and  is,  to  this  day,  assiduously  cultivated ;  so  that  a  mo- 
dern traveller  observes,  that  Samaria  is  now  a  mere  garden. 
The  ruins  of  a  church  are  still  visible,  erected  by  the  em- 
press Helena,  upon  the  spot  where  John  the  Baptist  was 
supposed  to  have  been  beheaded;  and  his  grave  is  still 
pointed  out,  with  those  of  the  prophets  Obadiah  and  Elisha, 
in  a  subterraneous  chapel. 

5.  South  of  Samaria,  between  Mount  Ebal  and  Mount 
Gerizim,  (see  p.  9,)  stood  Shechem,  or  Sichem,  one  of  the 
oldest  cities  of  Palestine.  It  was  a  city  in  Jacob's  time, 
(Gen.  xxxiii.  18,)  if  not  in  Abraham's.  (Gen.  xii.  6.) 
When  Jacob  returned  from  Mesopotamia,  it  was  in  the 
possession  of  Hamor,  a  Hivite  Prince.  On  the  division  of 
the  land  among  the  tribes,  this  city  fell  to  Ephraim,  (Josh. 
xxi.  21,)  but  was  afterwards  set  apart  for  the  Levites. 


PALESTINE.  135 

Here  Joshua  assembled  the  people  before  his  death,  and 
renewed  the  covenant  between  them  and  the  Lord.  (Josh, 
xxiv.)  After  the  death  of  Gideon,  Shechem  became  a 
seat  of  idolatrous  worship,  the  people  worshipping  Baal- 
berith  there.  (Judg.  viii.  33,  ix.  4,  46.)  The  people  of 
Shechem  resisted  the  usurpation  of  Abimelech,  who  there- 
fore brought  an  army  against  it,  and  "took  the  city,  and 
slew  the  people  that  was  therein,  and  beat  down  the  city, 
and  sowed  it  with  salt."  (Judg.  ix.  45.)  It  was  rebuilt 
again,  however;  for  David  mentions  it,  Ps.  Ix.  6;  and  we 
read,  in  1  Kings  xii.  1,  that  all  Israel  came  to  Shechem, 
after  the  death  of  Solomon,  to  make  Rehoboam  king.  On 
his  refusing,  however,  to  accede  to  their  request,  ten  tribes 
chose  Jeroboam  for  their  sovereign,  who  fixed  upon  She- 
chem as  his  royal  residence,  and  built  [i.  e.  rebuilt]  and 
adorned  it;  (xii.  25.) 

On  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  captivity,  the  mixed 
race  who  inhabited  Samaria,  desired  to  assist  in  the  erec- 
tion, and  participate  in  the  privileges,  of  the  temple  at  Je- 
rusalem, but  were  refused.  They  consequently  built  a  tem- 
ple for  themselves  upon  Mount  Gerizim,  where,  under  the 
direction  of  a  Jewish  priest,  Manasseh,  they  worshipped 
in  strict  observance  of  the  law  of  Moses.  (See  John  iv.  20.) 
This  temple  stood  two  hundred  years,  and  was  finally  des- 
troyed 129  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ.  In  the  New 
Testament,  Shechem  is  called  Sychar.  (John  iv.  5.)  By 
the  Romans  it  was  called  Flavia  Neapolis,  in  honour  of  the 
emperor  Flavins  Vespasian.  Neapolis  has  been  corrupted 
by  the  Arabs  into  Nablus,  which  is  the  present  name.  It 
is  still  a  considerable  place,  and  its  site  is  remarkably  plea- 
sant and  productive.  In  the  vicinity,  travellers  are  still 
directed  to  the  graves  of  Joseph,  Joshua,  and  Eleazar. 
(Josh.  xxiv.  29,  30,  32,  33.) 

Without  the  town  is  Jacob's  well,  (John  iv.  56,)  so  called, 
because  ''  near  to  the  parcel  of  ground  that  Jacob  gave  to 
his  son  Joseph."  (John  iv.  3,  Gen.  xlviii.  22.)  Here  the 
descendants  of  Joseph  interred  his  bones,  according  to  his 
own  request.  (Gen.  1.  25,  Josh.  xxiv.  32.) 

6.  Gilgal,  where  one  of  the  petty  Canaanitish  kings 
resided,  (Josh.  xii.  23,)  was  situated  on  the  plain  of  Sha- 
ron, (see  p.  88,)  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Shechem,  and 


136  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

* '  beside  the  plains  of  Moreh."  (Deut.  xi.  30.)     There  was 
another  Gilgal  in  Judea. 

7.  Thehez  was  situated  north-east  of  Shechem,  with 
which  city  it  took  part  in  resisting  the  usurpation  of  Abim- 
elech,  who  besieged  the  place  and  took  it ;  but  just  as  he 
was  setting  fire  to  a  tower,  in  which  the  inhabitants  had 
taken  refuge,  a  woman  threw  a  piece  of  a  mill-stone  on  his 
head,  and  his  armour-bearer  slew  him.  (Judg.  ix.  50 — 54.) 

8.  Respecting  the  situation  of  Luz,  (Judg.  i.  22 — 26,) 
Aruma,  (Judg.  ix.  41,  2  Kings  xxiii.  36,)  and  Asher,  (Josh, 
xvii.  7,)  little  is  now  known. 

9.  Abel-Meholah,  which  was  probably  the  birth-place  of 
Elisha,  (1  Kings  xix.  16,)  and  is  mentioned  in  the  ac- 
count of  Gideon's  victory  over  the  Midianites,  (Judg.  vii. 
22,)  was  situated  in  the  plain  of  Jordan,  between  Shechem 
and  Beth-shean.  (See  pp.  133,  134.) 

10.  Zartanah,  or  Zereda,  or  Zeredathah,  the  native  place 
of  Jeroboam,  the  first  king  of  Israel,  (1  Kings  xi.  26,)  was 
situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Jordan,  near  Beth-shean, 
(1  Kings  iv.  12,)  directly  opposite  to  Succoth.  Between 
these  places  Solomon  caused  brazen  vessels  for  the  tem- 
ple to  be  cast.  (1  Kings  vii.  46,  2  Chron.  iv.  17.) 

11.  Aenon,  near  to  Salim,  where  John  baptized  after  he 
left  Bethabara,  (John  iii.  23 ;  or  Bethany, — see  p.  123,  note,) 
was  situated  south  of  Beth-shean,  in  the  plain  of  Jordan. 
The  Salim  mentioned  in  the  verse  just  cited,  is  probably 
the  same  with  that  in  Gen.  xiv.  18,  as  this  situation  would 
agree  much  better  with  the  history,  than  that  commonly 
adopted,  viz.  that  the  Salem  there  mentioned  was  Jerusalem. 

12.  Lebonah,  (Judg.  xxi.  19,)  south  of  Shechem,  on  the 
western  side  of  a  delightful  valley. 

13.  Shiloh,  where  Joshua  set  up  the  tabernacle,  and 
whence  he  sent  surveyors  to  make  a  partition  of  the  land 
(Josh,  xviii.  1,)  was  situated  between  Lebonah  and  Bethel. 
Here  all  the  children  of  Israel  assembled,  several  times  a 
year,  to  celebrate  the  festivals.     On  one  of  these  occasions, 


'  PALESTINE.  137 

\\ie  men  of  Benjamin  stole  the  daughters  of  the  men  of 
Shiloh.  (Judg.  xxi.)  The  tabernacle  was  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Gilgal.    (1  Sam.  x.  8,  xi.  15,  xv.  33,  Jer.  vu. 

12 14   Ps.  Ixxviii.  58,  &c.)     Shiloh  was  the  residence 

of  the  prophet  Abijah.  (1  Kings  xiv.  2.)  There  is  now  no 
relic  of  it  visible. 

14.  Bethel  was  situated  between  Shechem  and  Jerusa- 
lem. It  was  originally  called  Luz.  (Gen.  xxviii.  19,  xxxv. 
6  Josh,  xviii.  13,  Judg.  i.  23.)  But  when  Jacob  had  seen 
two  visions  of  the  Lord  upon  the  spot,  he  gave  it  the  name 
of  Bethel,  or  the  House  of  God,    (Gen.  xxvui.   10---19. 

xxxv.  1 7,  9—15,)  and  ever  afterwards  regarded  it  as 

sacred. 

When  the  Hebrews  invaded  Canaan,  Bethel  was  the 
residence  of  a  petty  king.  (Josh.  xii.  9,)  It  was  assigned 
by  Joshua  to  the  tribe  of  Ephraim  ;  but  the  Canaanites  re- 
gained and  kept  possession  of  it,  till  at  length  the  Ephraim- 
ites  obtained  it,  through  the  treachery  of  one  of  the  inhabit- 
ants. (Judg.  i.  2-2—26.)  The  tabernacle  was  for  a  long 
time  stationed  at  Bethel.  (Judg.  xx.  27,  1  Sam.  x.  3,  Hos. 

^"ifter  the  death  of  Solomon,  Bethel  belonged  to  the  nevv 
kingdom  of  Israel,  and  was  selected  by  Jeroboam  as  one  of 
the   two   places  to   be  appointed  for  the  worship  of  his 
golden  calves,  (1  Kings  xii.  28—33,)  probably  on  account  of 
its  ancient  reputation  for  superior  sanctity.     In  the  reign 
of  Jeroboam  II.  Amaziah,  the  priest  of  Bethel,  accused  the 
prophet  Amos  (who  had  been  sent  to  denounce  him,)  of  a 
conspiracy  against  the  king ;  in  consequence  of  which  he 
was  expelled  from  Bethel.  (Amos  vii.  10—13.)     We  read 
in  2  Kings  x.  29.)  that  Jehu,  though  he  abolished  the  wor- 
ship of  Baal  in  his  dominions,  "  departed  not  from  the  sins 
of  Jeroboam,  the  son  of  Nebat,  who  made  Israel  to  sin  ;  to 
wit,  the  golden  calves  that  were  in  Bethel  and  that  were 
in  Dan."     Amos  uses  the  phrase  *' coming  to  Bethel"  to 
denote  idolatrv  ;  (iv.  4 ;— see  also  v.  5 ;)  and  the  prophet 
Hosea,  thinking  the  place  unworthy  of  its  ancient  name, 
(the  house  of  God)  calls  it  Beth-aven,  or  the  house  of  ini- 
quity ;  (v.  8,  iv.  15,  X.  5,  8.)     There  was  another  Beth- 
aven,  however,  which  is  mentioned  Josh.  vii.  2,  (as  being 
east  of  Bethel,)  and  1  Sam.  xiii.  5.     Also,  a  wilderness  of 
Beth-aven.  (Josh,  xviii.  12.)     The  threatenings  denounced 
m2 


138  GEOaRAPHY  OF  THE  BlBLE 

against  Bethel  by  Amos,  (iii.  14,)  were  fulfilled  by  Josiah, 
king  of  Judah.  ('2  Kings  xxiii.  15.)  One  of  the  priests 
sent  back  from  Assyria  to  teach  the  people  "  the  manner 
of  the  God  of  the  land,"  took  up  his  abode  in  Bethel. 

After  the  inhabitants  of  Bethel  were  carried  into  cap- 
tivity, colonists  from  Judah  and  Benjamin  took  possession 
of  the  place,  (Ezra  ii.  28,  Neh.  vii.  32,  xi.  31,)  who  were 
themselves  carried  captive  at  a  later  period.  The  latter^ 
however,  or  their  descendants,  returned,  and  resumed  their 
former  possessions. 

5.  Tirzah  was  the  residence  of  the  kings  of  Israel,  from 
Jeroboam  (who  removed  thither  from  Shechem,)  to  Zimri, 
who,  when  besieged  by  Omri  in  his  palace,  to  avoid  cap- 
tivity, set  fire  to  the  house,  and  perished  in  the  flames. 
(1  Kings  xvi.  18.)  Omri,  his  successor,  built  Samaria. 
(See  p.  134.)  The  precise  situation  of  Tirzah  is  unknown. 
It  was  probably  within  the  bounds  of  Ephraim. 

16.  "  When  they  had  made  an  end  of  dividing  the  land 
for  inheritance  by  their  coasts,  the  children  of  Israel  gave 
an  inheritance  to  Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun,  among  them. 
According  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  they  gave  him  the  city 
which  he  asked,  even  Timnath-serah,  in  Mount  Ephraim ; 
and  he  built  the  city  and  dwelt  therein."  (Josh.  xix.  49, 
50.)  And  when  he  died,  ''  they  buried  him  in  the  border 
of  his  inheritance  in  Timnath-serah,  which  is  in  Mount 
Ephraim,  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill  Gaash  ;"  (xxiv.  30. 
— See  p.  84.)  The  name  is  written  Timnath-heres,  in 
Judg.  ii.  9. 

17.  Two  places  of  the  name  of  Shamir  are  mentioned  in 
Scripture ;  one  in  Mount  Ephraim,  where  Tola,  the  judge, 
resided,  (Judg.  x.  1,)  the  other  in  the  mountains  of  Judah. 
(Josh.  XV.  48.) 

18.  The  city  of  Ephraim,  mentioned  in  2  Sam.  xiii.  23, 
and  John  xi.  54,  was  situated,  probably,  in  the  desert  of 
Beth-aven,  within  the  bounds  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  It 
is  uncertain  whether  the  Ephraim  which  Abijah,  king  of 
Judah,  took  from  Jeroboam,  king  of  Israel,  (2  Chrou.  xiii 
19,)  was  the  same  with  that  just  mentioned. 


PALESTINE.  139 

19.  Seirath,  on  Mount  Ephraim,  was  the  place  to  which 
Ehud  fled  after  he  had  slain  Eglon,  king  of  Moab.  (Judff 
iii.  26,  27.) 

IV.  JUDEA. 

The  name  Jitdea  denotes,  sometimes  the  whole  land  of 
Israel  west  of  Jordan,  sometimes  the  southern  part  of  it. 
In  the  latter  sense,  it  was  bounded,  on  the  north  by  Sama- 
ria, on  the  east  by  the  Dead  sea,  on  the  south  by  Arabia, 
and  on  the  west  by  the  Mediterranean.  The  territory  of 
Judea  on  the  sea-coast,  extended  as  far  north  as  Ptoleiiiais, 
in  a  narrow  tract  of  land  forming  the  western  boundary  of 
Samaria,  and  dividing  that  province  from  the  sea. 

Judea  comprehended  the  territory  of  the  tribes  of  Judah, 
Benjamin,  and  Simeon;  (see  p.  117 ;)  and  it  appears  from 
a  passage  in  the  Apocrypha,  that,  in  later  times,  a  part  of 
Samaria  and  Galilee  was  added  to  Judea.  (1  Mac.  x.  25.) 
When  Jerusalem  was  destroyed  by  the  Chaldees,  and  the 
Jews  carried  captive  into  Babylon,  the  Idumeans  took  ad- 
vantage of  their  absence  to  seize  upon  the  south-western 
district  of  Judea.  Though  they  afterwards  embraced  the 
Jewish  religion,  and  amalgamated  with  the  Jews,  the  dis- 
trict which  they  inhabited  continued  to  be  called  Idumea, 
under  which  name  it  is  mentioned,  Mark  iii.  8. 

The  following  are  the  most  important  places  of  Judea 
mentioned  in  the  Bible  : — 

1.  Jericho,  the  City  of  Palm-trees,  (Deut.  xxxiv.  3,)  situ- 
ated six  or  eight  leagues  east  of  Jerusalem,  in  the  plain  of 
Jordan,  was  one  of  the  oldest  cities  in  the  Holy  Land.  It 
stands  first  among  the  Canaanitish  kingdoms,  enumerated 
by  Joshua,  (xii.  9,)  and  was  the  first  place  attacked  by  the 
Israelites  after  passing  the  Jordan.  When  taken,  it  was 
reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  inhabitants  all  destroyed,  with 
the  exception  of  one  family.  (Josh.  vi.  21 — 25.)  Notwith- 
standing the  curse  which  Joshua  pronounced  upon  the  man 
who  should  rebuild  Jericho — He  shall  lay  the  foundation 
thereof  in  his  first-born,  and  in  his  youngest  son  shall  he  set 
up  the  gates  of  it,  (vi.  26,)  we  soon  find  it  again  mentioned 
as  a  city.  (Judg.  iii.  LS,  2  Sam.  x.  4,  5.)  These  texts, 
however,  may  refer  simply  to  the  ruins  of  the  old  town ; 
for  we  do  not  find  the  fulfilment  of  the  prophecy  recorded 


140  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

till  the  reign  of  Ahab,  in  whose  days  ''  Hiel  the  Bethelite, 
built  Jericho :  he  laid  the  foundation  thereof  in  Abiram, 
his  first-born,  and  set  up  the  gates  thereof  in  his  youngest 
son  Segub,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  which  he 
spake  by  Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun."  (1  Kings  xvi.  34.) 
The  city  itself,  however,  appears  to  have  flourished.  In 
the  days  of  Elijah  and  Elisha  there  was  a  school  of  the 
prophets  here ;  and  both  those  men  of  God  appear  to  have 
resided  much  at  Jericho.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  this 
place  was  the  spring,  the  waters  of  which  Elisha  healed. 
(2  Kings  ii.  19 — 22.)  The  spring  is  still  pointed  out  to 
travellers,  who  describe  the  water  as  remarkably  copious 
and  excellent. 

We  read  in  Ezra  ii.  34,  and  Nehem.  vii.  36,  that  three 
hundred  and  forty-five  of  the  inhabitants  of  Jericho,  who 
had  been  carried  captive,  returned  to  Judea  with  Zerub- 
babel,  and  in  IS  eh.  iii.  2,  we  find  them  at  work  upon  the 
walls  of  Jerusalem. 

Jericho  is  several  times  mentioned  in  the  Gospels.  Here 
Zaccheus,  the  publican,  resided,  (Luke  xix.  1 — 10,)  and 
here  Jesus  healed  two  blind  men.  (Matt.  xx.  29,  Mark 
X.  46.) 

Under  the  Romans,  Jericho  was  the  second  city  of  Pa- 
lestine. It  was  one  of  the  royal  residences  of  Herod  the 
Great,  who  died  there.  It  was  laid  waste  by  Vespasian, 
but  rebuilt  by  Adrian.  In  the  war  of  the  crusades  it 
was  again  reduced  to  ashes,  and  its  place  is  now  occupied 
by  a  miserable  hamlet  called  Riha. 

2.  Gilgal,  the  first  encampment  of  the  Hebrews,  after 
the  passage  of  the  Jordan,  was  situated  south-east  of  Jeru- 
salem, between  that  city  and  the  river.  Here  the  twelve 
stones  were  set  up,  which  had  been  taken  from  the  midst 
of  Jordan,  as  a  memorial  of  the  wonderful  event  there  wit- 
nessed. (Josh.  iv.  20.)  This  place  continued  for  seven 
years  to  be  the  head  quarters  of  the  Israelites,  during  the 
war  which  Joshua  carried  on  against  the  Canaanites.  (Josh. 
ix.  10,  X.  6,  9,  15,  43.)  The  tabernacle  also  remained  here 
until  it  was  removed  to  Shiloh,  (Josh,  xviii.  1,)  from  which 
place  it  was  again  brought  back  to  Gilgal,  as  appears  from 
1  Sam.  X.  8,  xi.  15,  xv.  33. 

Gilgal  is  mentioned,  1  Sam.  vii.  16,  as  one  of  the  places 
to  which  Samuel  went  in  circuit,  yearly,  to  administer  jus- 


'  ^  PALESTINE.  141 

tice.  At  Gilgal,  he  assembled  the  people  to  "  renew  the 
kingdom,"  that  is,  to  confirm  the  appointment  of  Saul. 
(1  Sam.  xi.  14,  15.)  Gilgal  is  also  mentioned  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  prophets  Elijah  and  Elisha.  (2  Kings  ii.  1,  iv. 
38.)  In  later  times  it  became  notorious  for  the  idolatrous 
rites  celebrated  there.  To  this  circumstance,  Amos  (iv.  4, 
5,)  gjid  Hosea  (iv.  15,  ix.  15,  xii.  11,)  allude.  The  place 
has  now  totally  disappeared. 

3.  Engedi,  or  Hazazon-tamar,  (2  Chron.  xx.  2,)  was 
situated  near  the  middle  of  the  western  shore  of  the  Dead 
sea.  It  was  celebrated  for  its  palm-trees.  The  "strong 
holds  at  Engedi,"  where  David  hid  himself,  (1  Sam.  xxiii. 
29,)  were  probably  caves  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  city. 
In  Canticles  (i.  14,)  we  read  of  the  vineyards  of  Engedi; 
and  we  learn  from  modern  travellers,  that  this  region  has, 
in  later  times,  been  celebrated  for  its  wine. 

4.  Ziph  was  the  name  of  two  cities  belonging  to  the 
tribe  of  Judah.  The  one  was  situated  at  the  southern  ex- 
tremity, on  the  borders  of  Edom  ;  (Josh.  xv.  24  ;)  the  other 
much  further  north,  on  a  hill  of  the  same  name,  eight  Ro- 
man miles  east  of  Hebron.  This  Ziph  was  one  of  the  cities 
which  Rehoboam  fortified.  (2  Chron.  xi.  8.)  In  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  this  place,  was  the  wilderness  of  Ziph,  where 
David  fled  from  Saul's  persecution.  (1  Sam.  xxiii.  13 — 24.) 
(See  p.  93.) 

5.  Carmel,  (Josh.  xv.  55,  1  Sam.  xv.  12,)  a  city  on  a 
hill  of  the  same  name,  (see  p.  85,)  was  situated  a  few  miles 
to  the  east  of  Ziph.  Here  were  the  possessions  of  Nabal, 
the  husband  of  Abigail,  to  whom  David  made  application 
for  provisions.  (1  Sam.  xxv.  2,  &-c.)  Abigail,  whom  Da- 
vid married  after  Nabal's  death,  is  called  (1  Sam.  xxvii.  3,) 
a  Carmelitess. 

6.  Maon,  where  Nabal  resided,  though  his  possessions 
were  in  Carmel,  (1  Sam.  xxv.  2,)  was  situated  south  of  the 
latter  place.  (Josh.  xv.  55.)  In  the  neighbourhood  was 
the  wilderness  of  Maon ;  (p.  93.) 

7.  Zoar,  one  of  the  five  cities  in  the  vale  of  Siddim, 
which  was  spared,  at  Lot's  request,  when  the  others  were 


142  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

destroyed,  (Gen.  xix.  21,)  was  situated  at  the  southern  ex- 
tremity of  the  Dead  sea.  In  the  first  century  of  the  Chris- 
tian era,  it  was  a  bishop's  see.  It  is  now  an  inconsidera- 
ble village.  The  situation  is  exceedingly  unhealthy,  and 
the  people  very  poor. 

8.  Aiath,  (Isa.  x.  28,)  or  Aija,  (Neh.  xi.  31,)  or  Ai,  was 
situated  on  an  elevated  spot  east  of  Bethel.  (Josh.  viii.  11.) 
It  is  mentioned  several  times  in  the  history  of  Abraham. 
(Gen.  xii.  8,  xiii.  3.)  It  was  burnt  by  Joshua,  (Josh.  viii. 
24,  25,)  but  afterwards  rebuilt.  After  the  return  of  the 
J«ws  from  captivity,  the  Benjamites,  to  whom  the  place 
belonged,  resumed  possession  of  it.   (Neh.  xi.  31.) 

9.  There  appears  to  have  been  two  places  of  the  name 
of  Migron ;  one  near  the  northern  frontier,  mentioned  Isa. 
x.  29  ;  the  other,  further  south,  near  Gibeah,  mentioned 
1  Sam.  xiv.  2. 

10.  South  of  Migron,  and  east  of  Beth-aven,  lay  Mich- 
mash^  (1  Sam.  xiii.  5,)  a  town  of  Benjamin.  (Ezra  ii.  27, 
Neh.  xi.  31.)  This  place  is  several  times  mentioned  in  the 
account  of  Saul's  wars  with  the  Philistines.  (1  Sam.  xiii.  2, 
5, 10, 16,  23,  xiv.  5,  31.)  In  Isaiah  x.  29,  we  read  of  a  pas- 
sage, or  narrow  pass,  between  two  rocks  south  of  Michmas, 
which  we  find  minutely  described  in  1  Sam.  xiv.  45.  This 
pass  appears  to  have  been  highly  important  as  a  military 
post.  (1  Sam.  xiii.  2 — 4.)  It  was  taken  by  Jonathan  and 
his  armour-bearer,  in  the  face  of  a  Philistine  garrison. 
(I  Sam.  xiv.  13—22.) 

11.  Geha,  called  (Judg.  xx.  10,  1  Kings  xv.  22,)  Geha 
of  Benjamin^  to  distinguish  it  from  another  Geba,  in  the 
tribe  of  Asher,  not  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  was  situated 
between  Shechem  and  Jerusalem.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
northerly  places  in  Judea,  as  appears  from  2  Kings  xxiii.  8. 
and  Zech.  xiv.  10,  where  the  phrases,  ''from  Geba  to 
Beersheba,"  "  from  Geba  to  Rimmon,"  are  used  to  denote 
the  whole  length  of  Judea.  It  was  one  of  the  cities  as- 
signed to  the  priests  out  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  (Josh, 
xviii.  24,  xxi.  17.)  In  the  neighbourhood  of  this  place, 
David  defeated  the  Philistines.  (2  Sam.  v.  25.)  Geba  is 
also  mentioned  by  Isaiah  ;  (x.  29.) 


PALESTINE. ,  *  143 

12.  Gibeah  of  Benjamin,  (1  Sam.  xiii.  2,  15, 2  Sam.  xxiii. 
29,  Judg.  xix.  14,  xx.  4,)  so  called  to  distinguish  it  from 
another  Gibeah  in  Judah  ;  also  Gibeah  of  Saul,  because 
Saul  resided  there.  (1  Sam.  x.  26,  xi.  4,  xv.  34,  Isa.  x.  29.) 
The  people  of  this  place  demanded  seven  of  Saul's  sons 
from  David,  and  hung  them.  (2  Sam.  xxi.  1 — 9.)  Long 
before  this,  the  inhabitants  of  Gibeah  had  been  guilty  of  a 
piece  of  cruelty  so  atrocious,  that,  as  the  sacred  historian 
declares,  "  there  was  no  such  deed  done  nor  seen,  from  the 
day  that  the  children  of  Israel  came  up  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt."  (Judg.  xix.  30.)  The  other  tribes,  indignant  at 
the  outrage,  demanded  the  offenders  to  be  given  up ;  but 
the  Benjamites  refusing  to  deliver  them,  the  whole  nation 
rose  in  arms  against  this  single  tribe,  and  though  at  first 
repulsed,  at  last  succeeded  in  destroying  Gibeah,  and  twen- 
ty-five thousand  men  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  (Judg.  xx. 
46.)  By  this  deed,  the  people  of  Gibeah  became  infamous 
in  Israel,  so  that  the  prophet  Hosea  alludes  to  their-  wick- 
edness as  if  proverbial ;  (ix.  9,  x.  9.) 

13.  Gibeon  was  situated  five  Roman  miles  north-west  of 
Jerusalem.  It  is  not  mentioned  among  the  royal  cities 
enumerated  in  Josh.  xii.  9 — 24,  nor  is  there  any  mention 
of  a  king  of  Gibeon  in  Scripture  ;  though  Joshua  describes 
it  as  a  "great  city,  like  one  of  the  royal  cities;"  (x,  2.) 
The  ambassadors  who  came  to  Joshua  from  Gibeon,  say, 
"our  elders  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  our  country,"  not 
"our  king."  (Josh.  ix.  11.)  It  is  probable,  therefore,  that 
in  it,  and  the  three  cities  connected  with  it,  Chephirah, 
Beeroth,  and  Kirjath-jearim,  (Josh.  ix.  17,)  there  prevailed 
a  sort  of  democratic  government. 

In  the  ninth  chapter  of  Joshua,  we  have  an  account  of  a 
^ratagem  practised  by  the  Gibeonites,  in  order  to  escape 
destruction,  in  consequence  of  which  a  league  was  made 
with  them  by  Joshua.  When  the  deception  was  discovered, 
the  children  of  Israel,  though  they  spared  their  lives,  de- 
graded them  to  the  meanest  offices  in  the  service  of  the 
sanctuary.  Soon  after,  Joshua  was  called  upon  to  act  as 
protector  of  his  new  allies.  Adoni-zedek,  king  of  Jerusa- 
lem, when  he  heard  that  the  Gibeonites  had  made  a  sepa- 
rate peace  with  the  invaders,  combined  with  four  other 
Canaanitish  kings  to  destroy  the  city,  but  was  himself  de- 
feated and  destroyed  by  Joshua.  (Josh,  x.) 


144  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

On  the  division  of  the  land  among  the  tribes,  Gibeon, 
Chephirah,  Beeroth,  and  Kirjath-jearim,  fell  to  the  lot  of 
Benjamin.  (Josh,  xviii.  15.)  Afterwards,  however,  Gibeon 
was  given  to  the  priests  and  Levites.  (Josh.  xxi.  17.)  In 
the  latter  part  of  David's  reign,  the  sanctuary  was  at  Gibeon, 
and  the  high  priest  Zadok,  dwelt  there ;  (1  Chron.  xvi. 
39,  40,  xxi.  29 ;)  and  there  Solomon  went  to  offer  sacrifices 
on  his  accession  to  the  throne. 

At  the  pool  of  Gibeon  a  battle  took  place  between  twelve 
of  David's  men,  and  twelve  of  Ishbosheth's,  in  which  every 
man  was  killed.  (2  Sam.  ii.  13.)  This  pool  is  no  doubt  the 
'' great  waters  in  Gibeon,"  mentioned  by  Jeremiah;  (xli. 
12.)  We  read  in  2  Sam.  xx.  8,  that  Joab  assassinated 
Amasa,  "  at  the  great  stone,  which  is  in  Gibeon,"  probably  a 
memorial  of  the  battle  above  mentioned. 

14.  Chephirah  (Josh.  ix.  17,)  belonged  to  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin  before  the  captivity,  and  was  re-occupied  by  the 
Benjamites  who  returned.  (Josh,  xviii.  2B,  Ezra  ii.  25, 
Neh.  vii.  29.) 

15.  Beeroth,  another  of  the  cities  of  the  Gibeonites,  (Josh. 
ix.  17,)  also  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  and  was  also 
re-possessed  by  them  on  their  return.  It  lay  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill  on  which  Gibeon  was  built.  To  this  place  belonged 
the  two  men  who  murdered  Ishbosheth.  (2  Sam.  iv.  2,  3.) 

16.  Baalah,  which  is  Kirjath-jearim,  (Josh.  xv.  9,)  also 
called  Kirjath-baal,  (Josh.  xv.  60,)  and  simply  Kirjath, 
(Josh,  xviii.  28,)  was  situated  on  the  borders  of  Benjamin 
and  Judah,  for  which  reason  it  is  reckoned  among  the 
cities  of  both  tribes.  (Josh.  xv.  60,  xviii.  28.)  But  in  Judg. 
xviii.  12,  it  is  called  Kirjath-jearim  in  Judah.  In  this 
place  the  ark  of  the  covenant  remained  twenty  years,  after 
it  was  removed  from  Beth-shemesh,  (1  Sam.  i.  2,)  until 
David  having  obtained  possession  of  Jerusalem,  fixed  the 
sanctuary  there.  (2  Sam.  vi.) 

17.  Ramah,  called  also  Ramathaim-zophim,  was  situated 
on  a  hill  north  of  Jerusalem,  between  that  city  and  Bethel. 
It  seems  probable,  from  Judges  xix.  13,  and  Hosea  v.  8, 
that  it  was  not  far  from  Gibeah.  Here  the  prophet  Samuel 
was  born.  (1  Sam.  i.  1.)     Here  he  dwelt;  (ix.  18.)    Here 


PALESTINE.  145 

he  anointed  Saul  to  be  king  over  Israel;  (ix.  27,  x.  1.) 
Here,  in  all  probability,  he  died;  and  here  he  certainly 
was  buried ;   (xxv.  1.) 

Ramah,  though  it  belonged  to  the  tribe  of  Benjamin, 
(Josh,  xviii.  25,)  was  included  in  the  kingdom  of  Israel. 
JBaasha,  the  second  king  after  Jeroboam,  fortified  and  gar- 
risoned it ;  (1  Kings  xv.  7,  2  Chron.  xvi.  1 ;)  but  Asa,  the 
contemporary  king  of  Judah,  having  bribed  the  king  of  Sy- 
ria to  invade  Baasha's  northern  provinces,  and  thereby 
compelled  him  to  withdraw  his  garrison  from  Ramah,  re- 
gained possession  of  the  place,  (1  Kings  xv.  18,  2  Chron. 
xvi.  2---6,)  which  afterwards  continued  subject  to  the 
kings  of  Judah. 

When  Jerusalem  was  taken  by  the  Chaldeans,  Ramah 
was  the  head  quarters  of  Nabuzar-adan,  the  captain  of  the 
guard.  There  he  brought  his  captives,  and  among  the  rest 
the  prophet  Jeremiah,  who,  however,  was  there  set  at 
liberty.  (Jer.  xl.  1.)  The  same  prophet  represents  Rachel, 
who  was  buried  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ramah,  (1  Sam. 
X.  2,)  as  mourning  there  over  the  captivity  of  Israel.  (Jer. 
xxxi.  15.) 

In  the  New  Testament,  Ramah  is  called  Arimathea,  (a 
corruption  of  Ramathaim.)  To  this  place  belonged  Joseph, 
in  whose  tomb  Christ  was  buried.  (Matt,  xxvii.  57,  Luke 
xxiii.  50,  51,  John  xix.  38.) 

On  the  hill  where  Ramah  once  stood,  there  is  now  a  vil- 
lage, situated  in  the  midst  of  ruins,  and  called  Samuel  by 
the  Arabs  who  inhabit  it.  Ramah  is  not  to  be  confounded 
with  Ramlah,  a  town  further  west,  upon  the  sea-coast, 
built  in  the  eighth  century. 

18.  Gallinu  (1  Sam.  xxv.  44,  Isa.  x.  30.) 

19.  Laish.  (Isa.  x.  30.) 

20.  Anathoth,  one  of  the  towns  of  Benjamin  allotted  to 
the  priests,  (Josh.  xxi.  18,)  was  situated  three  Roman 
miles  to  the  north  of  Jerusalem. — It  was  the  birth-place  of 
Jeremiah,  (Jer.  i.  1,)  who  denounces  threats  against  the 
inhabitants,  because  they  attempted  to  forbid  his  prophesy- 
ing in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  (Jer.  xi.  19 — 22,  25.)  It  was 
also  the  native  place  of  Abiezer,  one  of  David's  mighty 
men,  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  27,)  and  the  place  to  which  Abiathar 

N 


146  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

was  confined  by  Solomon,  because  he  had  taken  part  with 
Adonijah.  (1  Kings  ii.  26.)  Among  the  Jews  who  returned 
from  captivity  with  Zerubbabel,  there  were  128  men  of 
Anathoth.  (Ezra  ii.  23,  Neh.  vii.  27.) 

21,  22.  Madmenah  and  Gehim.  (Isa.  x.  31.) 

23.  Noh,  a  ''  city  of  the  priests,"  (1  Sam.  xxii.  19,)  in 
the  land  of  Benjamin,  (Neh.  xi.  32,)  was  within  sight  of 
Jerusalem,  towards  the  north.  Here  David  obtained  from 
Abimelech  the  priest,  shew-bread,*  to  appease  his  hunger, 
and  the  sword  of  Goliath  to  defend  himself,  when  he  fled 
from  Saul.  (1  Sam.  xxi.  1 — 9.)  For  this  connivance,  Saul 
put  to  death  not  only  Abimelech  himself,  but  all  the  "  men 
and  women,  children  and  sucklings,  and  oxen,  and  asses, 
and  sheep,"  in  Nob,  the  city  of  the  priests ;  (xxii.  19.) 

24.  Gezer,  on  the  borders  of  Ephraim  and  Benjamin, 
(Josh.  xvi.  3,)  was  the  residence  of  a  Canaanitish  king, 
(Josh.  xii.  12,)  who  came  to  the  aid  of  Lachish,  when  be- 
sieged by  Joshua,  but  was  totally  defeated.  (Josh.  x.  33.) 
The  city  seems,  however,  to  have  continued  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  Canaanites ;  for  the  Ephraimites,  though  they 
made  them  tributary,  could  not  drive  them  out.  (Josh.  xvi. 
10,  Judg.  i.  29.)  In  the  reign  of  Solomon,  the  place  was 
conquered ;  not  by  Solomon  himself,  but  by  his  father-in- 
law,  Pharaoh,  king  of  Egypt,  who  ''had  gone  up  and 
taken  Gezer,  and  burnt  it  with  fire,  and  slain  the  Canaan- 
ites that  dwelt  in  the  city,  and  given  it  for  a  present  unto 
his  daughter,  Solomon's  wife."  (1  Kings  ix.  16.)  Solo- 
mon rebuilt  it;  (17.) 

25.  Upper  and  Nether  Beth-horon  (Josh.  xvi.  3,  5,)  were 
situated  about  12  Roman  miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem,  the 
former  on  the  brow  of  a  hill,  the  latter  in  a  valley  below, 
the  descent  to  which  is  called  (Josh.  x.  11,)  the  going  down 
to  Beth-horon.  These  towns  were  built  by  Sherah,  a  grand- 
daughter of  Ephraim.  (1  Chron.  vii.  24.)  Though  suf- 
ficiently strong  by  nature,  they  were  fortified  by  Solomon. 
(1  Kings  ix.  17,  2  Chron.  viii.  5.)     Here  a  bloody  battle 

*  The  shew-bread  had,  no  doubt,  been  removed  to  the  priest's  house,  be- 
cause fresh  was  to  be  furnished  on  the  morrow. 


PALESTINE.  147 

was  fought  between  Judas  Maccabseus  and  the  Syrian  gen- 
eral Nicanor,  in  which  the  army  of  the  latter  was  cut  to 
pieces.  C2,Maccab.  xv.  25—27.) 

26.  Emmaus,  which  is  mentioned  only  once  in  the  New 
Testament,  (Luke  xxiv.  13,)  as  the  place  to  which  the  two 
disciples  were  journeying  on  the  day  of  Christ's  resurrec- 
tion, is  there  stated  to  have  been  distant  sixty  furlongs  from 
Jerusalem,  piobably  towards  the  north. 

There  was  another  Emmaus  in  the  western  part  of  Ju- 
dea,  which  will  be  described  hereafter. 

27.  Mizpah,  in  Benjamin,  (Josh,  xviii.  26,)  appears  to 
have  been  situated  north  of  Jerusalem,  and  at  no  great 
distance. 

Before  there  were  kings  in  Israel,  the  assemblies  of  the 
people  or  their  representatives  were  held  at  Mizpah,  (Judg. 
XX.  1,  xxi.  15,  1  Sam.  vii.  5—7,  x.  17,)  probably  on  ac- 
count of  its  central  situation.  In  later  times,  Asa,  king  of 
Judah,  fortified  Mizpah  as  a  defence  against  the  invasions 
of  the  kings  of  Israel ;  using,  for  this  purpose,  the  mate- 
rials which  Baasha,  king  of  Israel,  had  brought  to  Ramah, 
with  a  similar  design.  (2  Chron.  xvi.  6.)  Here  Gedaliah 
resided,  Nebuchadnezzar's  governor  of  Judea,  (Jer.  xl.  6,) 
who  was  afterwards  murdered  by  Ishmael.  (Jer.  xli.  1 — 6, 
2  Kings  XXV.  25.)  ^ 

After  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  captivity,  Mizpah  was 
rebuilt  and  occupied  ;  and  in  Neh.  iii.  17,  19,  we  find  the 
men  of  Mizpah  working  upon  the  walls  of  Jerusalem.  No 
vestige  of  this  city  now  remains. 

There  was  another  Mizpah  in  the  western  part  of  Judea. 

28.  Jerusalem.  Ancient  Jerusalem  was  situated  upon 
several  hills,  originally  separated  by  deep  valleys,  which, 
however,  in  process  of  time,  were  in  a  great  measure  filled 
up.  The  highest  of  these  hills,  upon  which  stood  what 
was  called  the  upper  town,  or  south-western  portion  of  the 
city,  still  retains  its  ancient  name  of  Zion,  which  is  often 
used  in  Scripture  to  denote  the  whole  city.  (Ps.  Ixxviii.  2, 
5,  22,  cii.  13,  16,  ex.  2,  Isa.  iv.  3,  x.  24.)  Opposite  this 
upper  town,  upon  Mount  Zion,  towards  the  north-east, 
stood  the  tower-town,  built  upon  another  hill,  called  by  the 
Greeks  Acra,  or  the  citadel,  firom  a  castle  built  there  by 


148  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Antiochus  Epiphanes.  South  of  Acra  was  a  third  hill, 
Mount  Moriah,  originally  separated  from  it  by  a  valley,  but 
united  to  it  by  Simon  Maccabaeus,  who  filled  up, the  valley, 
destroyed  the  castle  of  Antiochus,  and  levelled  the  peak  of 
Acra,  in  order  that  the  temple,  which  stood  upon  Moriah, 
might  not  be  overtopped  by  any  profane  edifice.  Mount 
Moriah  was  connected  with  Mount  Zion  by  a  bridge, 
thrown  across  the  valley  that  divided  them.  Josephus 
mentions  yet  a  fourth  hill,  called  Bezetha,  (or  the  neiv  town,) 
because  first  added  to  the  city  by  Agrippa,  grandson  of 
Herod  the  Great. 

At  the  time  of  Josephus,  who  lived  soon  after  Christ,  the 
whole  city,  except  where  it  was  inaccessible,  was  surround- 
ed with  a  triple  wall,  furnished  with  breast-works,  (called 
in  Scripture  bulwarks  and  ramparts,  (Psa.  xlviii.  13,  Lam. 
ii.  8,)  and  with  towers.  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  9,  15.)  Two  of 
these  are  mentioned  particularly  in  the  Bible — the  tower 
of  Hananeel,  (Jer.  xxxi.  38,  Zech.  xiv.  10,)  and  the  tower 
of  Meah.  (Neh.  iii»  1,  xii.  39.)  These  towers  were  square, 
20  ells  high  above  the  wall,  and  200  ells  apart. 

J  'rusalem  was  furnished  with  gates  on  three  of  its  sides 
only,  the  sou(;h  side  of  Mount  Zion  being  inaccessible.  After 
tlie  return  <rf  the  Jews  from  captivity,  we  read  in  Scrip- 
ture of  ten  gates.     Five  of  these  were  on  the  eastern  side. 

1.  The  Water-gate,  so  called  from  the  brook  Kedron, 
wkich  flowed  before  it.  (Neh.  iii.  26,  xii.  37-) 

2.  The  llorse-gate  ''by  the  king's  house,"  (2  Chron. 
xxiii.  15,  JNeh.  iii.  28,)  probably  so  called  from  the  vicinity 
of  the  royal  stables. 

3.  The  Sheep-gate,  through  which  the  animals  were 
probably  brought  in  for  sacrifice.  It  &tood  close  to  the  tem- 
ple, and  was  the  first  gate  rebuilt  by  Zerubbabel.  (Neh.  iii. 
1.)  Between  this  and  the  horse-gate,  dwelt  the  priests. 
(Neh.  iii.  28.)  Near  this  gate  was  the  pool  of  Bethesda, 
mentioned  John  v.  2. 

4.  The  Fish-gate,  between  the  Sheep-gate  and  the  Old^ 
gate.  (Neh.  iii.  3,  Zeph.  i.  10.) 

5.  The  Old-gate,  or  First-gate.  (Neh.  iii.  6,  xii.  39, 
Zech.  xiv.  10.) 

Two  were  on  the  north  side  : — 

6.  The  gate  of  Ephraim,  (Neh.  viii.  16,)  called  also  th& 
gate  of  Benjamin.  (Jer.  xxxvii.  13,  xxxviii*  7,  Zech 
xiv.  (10 


PALESTINE.  T49 

7.  The  Corner-gcUe,  four  hundred  cubits  west  of  the 
gate  of  Ephraim.  (2  Chron.  xxv.  23,  xxvi.  9,  Jer.  xxxi. 
38,  Zech.  xiv.  10,  Neh.  xii.  39.] 

Three  were  on  the  western  side : — 

8.  The  Valley-gate,  (Neh.  iii.  13,)  before  which  was 
the  dragon-well ;  (ii.  13.) 

9.  The  Dung-gate,  a  thousand  cubits  south  of  the  valley- 
gate.  (Neh.  iii.  13,  14.) 

10.  The  Fountain- gate,  (Neh.  ii.  14,  xii.  37,)  so  called 
from  the  fountain  of  Siloah,  which  formed  a  pool  near  this 
gate,  and  watered  the  king's  garden.  (Neh.  iii.  15.) 

The  Middle-gate,  mentioned  Jer.  xxxix.  3,  was  an  en- 
trance from  the  lower  to  the  upper  town. 

The  Prison-gate,  (Neh.  xii.  39,  40,)  and  the  gate  of 
Miphkad,  (iii.  31,)  were  gates  of  the  temple,  not  the  city. 
The  gate  mentioned  2  Kings  xxv.  4,  Jer.  xxxix.  4,  was 
probably  a  private  gate. 

The  whole  compass  of  the  city,  according  to  Josephus, 
was  33  stadia,  or  about  4  miles,  100  yards.  Respecting  the 
number  of  inhabitants,  we  have  no  certain  information. 

No  particular  street  in  Jerusalem  is  mentioned  in  Scrip- 
ture, excepting  the  Baker' s- street.  (Jer.  xxxvii.  21.)  From 
this  expression,  and  from  Neh.  iii.  32,  it  would  seem,  that 
in  ancient  Jerusalem,  as  in  most  oriental  cities  at  the  pre- 
sent day,  men  of  the  same  occupation  inhabited  the  same 
quarter.  The  words  translated  street,  in  Neh.  iii.  16,  2 
Chron.  xxxii.  6.  Neh.  viii.  1,  3,  properly  signify  squares, 
or  open  places  around  the  gates. 

The  most  important  public  edifices  of  Jerusalem,  besides 
the  temple,  were  : — 

1.  The  fort,  castle,  or  strong-hold  of  Zion.  When  the 
Hebrews  invaded  Palestine,  this  citadel  was  in  the  hands 
of  the  Jebusites  ;  and  in  their  hands  it  continued,  even  af-? 
ter  David  had  subdued  the  whole  circumjacent  region.  So 
strong  was  it  by  nature,  and  so  well  fortified  by  art,  that 
when  David  came  against  it,  the  inhabitants  replied  to  his 
summons,  "  Except  thou  take  away  the  blind  and  the  lame, 
thou  shalt  not  come  in  hither ;"  (2  Sam.  v.  6 ;)  i.  e.  even  if 
our  army  were  destroyed,  the  blind  and  lame  could  defend  so 
strong  a  post.  At  length,  David  promised  the  command  of  his 
army  to  the  man  who  should  take  the  place ;  upon  which 
Joab  went  up  and  took  it.  (1  Chron.  xi.  6.)  After  this,  it  was 
called  the  city  of  David.  (2  Sam.  v.  9,  vi.  10,  12,  1  Kings 
n2 


150  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

viii.  1.)  It  was  surrounded  by  a  wall  called  Millo,  whicR 
was  repaired  and  strengthened  by  David,  (2  Sam.  v.  9^) 
and  afterwards  by  Hezekiah.  (2  Chron.  xxxii.  5.) 

2.  On  the  same  hill  (Mount  Zion,)  was  the  palace  of 
king  Solomon,  called  the  House  of  the  Forest  of  Lebanon, 
on  account  of  the  multitude  of  cedars  from  that  mountain, 
employed  in  the  construction  of  it.  (See  a  description  of  it 
in  1  Kings  vii.  2,  x.  17.) 

"3.  On  the  same  hill,  in  later  times,  stood  the  palace  of 
king  Herod,  a  magnificent  edifice,  near  the  northern  wall 
of  the  upper  town.  It  was  destroyed,  with  the  other  pub- 
lic buildings,  by  the  Romans. 

4.  The  castle  of  Antonia,  built  by  John  Hyrcanus,  and 
repaired  by  Herod,  was  situated  at  the  north-west  corner 
of  the  temple,  the  vestibule  of  which  was  commanded  by 
the  highest  tower  of  the  castle.  Here  a  Roman  garrison 
was  stationed,  after  Palestine  became  a  Roman  province, 
to  watch  the  proceedings  of  the  people  in  the  temple.  Into 
this  castle  the  apostle  Paul  was  carried  to  save  him  from 
the  fury  of  the  Jews.  (Acts  xxi.  34,  37,  xxii.  24,  xxiii.  10.) 
This  was  probably  the  Prcetorium,  translated  Judgment-hall  ; 
(John  xviii.  28,  xix.  9 ;)  and  in  front  of  it  was  the  pave- 
ment, where  Pilate  pronounced  sentence  on  our  Saviour. 

The  origin  of  Jerusalem  is  lost  in  remote  antiquity. 
When  the  Hebrews  invaded  Palestine,  it  was  the  seat  of 
Adoni-bezek,  a  Canaanitish  king,  and  was  then  called  Je- 
bus  or  Jebusi,  (Judg.  xix.  10,  11.)  This  king  was  con- 
quei;ed  and  slain  by  Joshua,  (Josh.  x.  23,  26,)  and  the  city 
given  to  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  (Josh,  xviii.  28.)  As  the 
Benjamites,  however,  delayed  long  to  gain  possession  of  it, 
the  neighbouring  tribe  of  Judah  went  up  and  took  it. 
(Judg.  i.  8.)  The  strong-hold,  however,  or  the  upper  town, 
still  continued  in  the  possession  of  the  Canaanites  for  seve- 
ral hundred  years,  the  Israelites  dwelling  in  the  lower 
town,  without  molestation,  (Josh.  xv.  63,  Judg.  i.  21,)  till 
at  length  Joab  took  the  castle  in  the  reign  of  David,  (2  Sam. 
V.  2--8,  1  Chron.  xi.  4 — 6. — See  p.  149,)  who  transferred 
his  residence  from  Hebron  to  this  city,  which  thencefor- 
ward bore  the  name  of  Jerusalem,  or  by  abbreviation  Salem, 
(Ps.  Ixxvi.  2,)  i.  e.  the  City  of  Peace.  Here  the  temple 
was  built  by  Solomon  ;  after  whose  death,  when  ten  of  the 
tribes  revolted,  Jerusalem  continued  to  be  the  capital  of  the 
kingdom  of  Judah.     In  the  reign  of  Amaziah,  Joash  king 


0 

PALESTINE.  K^I 

of  Israel,  took  the  city,  plundered  the  temple  and  the  pa- 
lace, and  carried  captive  a  part  of  the  inhabitants.  (-2  Kings 
xiv.  12 — 14.)  By  the  succeeding  kings  of  Judah,  Uzziah, 
Jothara,  and  Hezekiah,  Jerusalem  was  fortified.  (-2  Chron. 
xxvi.  9,  xxvii.  3,  xxxii.  5.)  In  the  reign  of  Jehoiakim, 
Nebuchadnezzar,  king  of  Babylon,  took  the  city,  and  car- 
ried into  his  own  dominions,  not  only  the  king,  but  the 
greater  part  of  the  inhabitants  ;  leaving  Jehoiakim's  brother 
Zedekiah,  to  be  king  in  his  place,  as  a  tributary  to  the 
crown  of  Babylon.  (2  Kings  xxiv.  17,  18.)  Zedekiah, 
however,  having  become  a  vassal  to  the  king  of  Egypt, 
Nebuchadnezzar,  in  a  second  expedition,  conquered,  sacked, 
and  burnt  the  city.  (2  Kings  xxv.,  2  Chron.  xxxvi.) 
About  seventy  years  after,  when  Babylon  became  a  part 
of  the  Persian  empire,  Cyrus  gave  permission  to  the  cap- 
tive Jews  to  return  to  their  own  country,  and  rebuild  their 
city  and  temple.  The  manner  in  which  this  was  accom- 
plished, forms  the  subject  of  the  books  of  Ezra  ^nd  Ne- 
hemiah.  But  Jerusalem  seems  to  have  arisen  from  her 
ashes  only  to  suffer  new  calamities.  In  the  space  of  350 
years,  it  was  successively  besieged  and  taken,  by  Ptolemy 
Lagi,  king  of  Egypt,  by  Antiochus  Epiphanes,  king  of 
Syria,  by  Pompey  the  Great,  by  Pacorus  the  Parthian,  and 
by  Herod  the  Great.  The  Romans,  who  obtained  pos- 
session of  the  Holy  Land  about  60  years  before  the  birth 
of  Christ,  oppressed  the  inhabitants  so  cruelly,  that  at  length 
they  rose  in  open  rebellion,  and  with  such  violence,  that 
Titus  Vespasian  was  despatched  with  an  army  to  repress 
them.  By  him  Jerusalem  was  stormed  and  burnt  about  70 
years  after  the  birth  of  Christ.  In  A.  D.  136,  the  Roman 
emperor,  Aelius  Adrianus,  built  a  new  city  on  the  ruins  of 
Jerusalem,  which  he  called  Aelia  Colonia  Antmina.  This 
name  it  bore,  till  after  the  conversion  of  Constantine  the 
Great  to  Christianity,  in  the  fourth  century,  when  the  an- 
cient name  was  revived.  In  the  year  615,  Jerusalem  w^as 
taken  by  the  king  of  Persia,  and,  about  20  years  after,  by 
the  Arabs  under  the  Caliph  Omar.  From  these  again  it 
was  taken  by  the  Seljooks,  and  from  these  by  the  Egyp- 
tians. At  the  end  of  the  eleventh  century,  it  was  con- 
quered by  the  Crusaders,  and  became  the  seat  of  a  Chris- 
tian king  ;  but  in  less  than  a  hundred  years  was  overthrown 
by  Saladin.  From  this  period  it  passed,  by  turns,  into  the 
hands  of  different  Mohammedan  and  Christian  nations,  till 


WTi  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

about  300  years  ago,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  Turks,  to 
whom  it  has  ever  since  belonged. 

Jerusalem,  at  the  present  day,  occupies  only  a  part  of  the 
ancient  site,  the  emperor  Adrian  having,  when  he  rebuilt 
it,  left  the  greater  part  of  Mount  Zion  without  the  walls. 
It  has  seven  gates,  only  five  of  which  are  used  : — 

1.  The  gate  of  Damascus,  on  the  north. 

2.  The  gate  of  Herod,  (shut  up.) 

3.  Stephen's  gate,  on  the  east,  leading  to  the  Mount  of 
Olives.  Just  without  this  gate,  the  martyr  Stephen  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  stoned. 

4.  The  golden  gate.  This  is  now  entirely  closed  up,  to 
prevent  Jews  and  Christians  from  approaching  the  great 
mosque  of  Omar,  which  stands  upon  the  site  of  the  old  tem- 
ple, near  this  place. 

5.  The  western  gate  or  dung  gate.   (See  p.  148.) 

6.  Zion  gate,  or  David's  gate,  leading  to  Mount  Zion. 

7.  The  Jaffa  or  Bethlehem  gate. 

The  present  walls  were  built  by  the  Sultan  Soliman,  in 
1534.  They  are  above  thirty  feet  high,  and  studded  with 
towers.  On  Mount  Zion  there  is  a  fort  called  David's  cas- 
tle, built  by  the  crusaders.  The  streets  of  Jerusalem  are 
cleaner  than  those  of  other  eastern  cities,  but  extremely 
narrow.  The  houses  are  very  high,  and  have  no  windows 
in  the  lower  stories. 

The  most  important  public  edifices  in  Jerusalem  at  pre- 
sent, are  as  follows  : — 

1.  The  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  built  in  the  form 
of  a  cross,  over  the  spot  where,  it  is  pretended,  Christ  was 
crucified  and  buried.  It  belongs  to  the  Roman  Catholics, 
Greeks,  Armenians,  and  Copts,  in  common.  It  is  only 
opened  on  festivals.  A  certain  number  of  priests,  from 
each  of  the  churches  just  enumerated,  reside  in  it  constantly, 
receiving  food  through  a  hole  in  the  door. 

2.  The  convent  of  San  Salvador,  (or  the  holy  Saviour,) 
occupied  by  Franciscan  monks  from  the  different  countries 
of  Europe,  who  live  upon  alms  collected  throughout  Chris- 
tendom. In  this  convent  all  European  travellers,  of  what- 
ever church  or  nation,  are  hospitably  entertained. 

3.  The  Armenian  convent,  built  upon  the  spot  where 
the  apostle  James  is  said  to  have  suffered  martyrdom,  is  the 
richest  religious  house  in  the  Levant.  The  superior,  who 
is  a  patriarch  or  archbishop,  lives  in  splendid  style. 


PALESTINE.  153 

4.  The  Greeks  have  about  twenty  convents  here,  the 
finest  of  which  is  one  near  the  church  of  the  Holy  Sepul- 
chre, where  their  patriarch  resides. 

5.  The  great  Mosque,  built  upon  the  site  of  Solomon's 
temple,  about  1200  years  ago,  by  the  caliph  Omar,  and 
called  by  the  Mohammedans  El-sakhrah,  or  the  stone,  from 
a  tradition  that  upon  this  same  spot  Jacob  saw  the  ladder, 
and  set  up  the  stone,  which  had  been  his  pillow,  as  a  me- 
morial. (Gen.  xxviii.  11,  18.)  No  Christian  is  allowed 
even  to  approach  this  mosque.  It  is  of  an  octagonal  form, 
and  is  said  to  be  a  splendid  specimen  of  oriental  architecture. 

The  population  of  Jerusalem,  at  present,  consists  of  about 
sixteen  thousand  Turks,  Arabs,  Jews,  Greeks,  Armenians, 
Georgians,  Syrians,  Abyssinians,  Copts,  and  Franks.  They 
are  generally  very  poor.  The  only  profitable  trade  here  is 
in  crucifixes,  rosaries,  and  relics.  The  sale  of  these  super- 
stitious toys  brings  into  the  convent  of  San  Salvador  a 
yearly  income  of  5,000  piastres.  Another  source  of  revenue 
to  the  inhabitants,  is  the  resort  of  pilgrims,  both  Christian 
and  Mohammedan.  The  former  visit  the  Holy  Sepulchre, 
at  Easter,  to  the  number  of  4000 — the  latter  worship  in  the 
Mosque  on  their  return  from  Mecca.  The  Jews  here  are 
very  poor.  Most  of  them  come  from  foreign  parts,  in  their 
old  age,  to  die  and  be  buried  in  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat. 

The  governor  of  Jerusalem  is  subject  to  the  pacha  of 
Damascus,  to  whom  he  pays  a  certain  proportion  of  the 
sums  which  he  extorts  from  the  inhabitants  and  pilgrims. 

East  of  Jerusalem,  beyond  the  brook  Kedron,  (see  p.  100,) 
is  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  the  scen^  of  our  Saviour's 
agony,  and  the  place  where  he  was  seized.  (Matt.  xxvi. 
36.)  It  is  now  a  grain-field  of  about  half  an  acre,  sur- 
rounded by  a  low  wall.  In  it  there  are  eight  olive-trees, 
several  hundred  years  old.  The  Franciscans  of  San  Sal- 
vador, to  whom  the  ground  belongs,  preserve  the  kernels 
of  the  olives  that  grow  here,  to  serve  as  beads  for  rosaries. 

The  Mount  of  Olives,  (see  p.  84,)  the  valley  of  Jehosha- 
phat, (see  p.  89,)  and  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  (see  p.  90,) 
have  already  been  described. 

In  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Moriah, 
south-east  of  Mount  Zion,  rises  the  fountain  of  Siloah  or 
Gihon.  The  water  from  this  spring  forms  two  pools,  on 
opposite  sides,  called,  in  Scripture,  the  upper  pool,  (Isa.  vii. 
3,)  or  king's  pool,  (Neh.  ii.  14,)  and  the  lower  pool.  (Isa. 


154  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

xxii.  9.)  In  one  of  these  pools  Jesus  sent  a  blind  man  to 
wash,  for  the  recovery  of  his  sight.  (John  ix.  7.) 

Another  spring  near  Jerusalem  is  called  Mary^s  Fountain, 
not  far  from  Siloam,  with  which  it  is  connected  by  an  arti- 
ficial passage.  It  is  probably  the  En-rogel,  mentioned 
Josh.  XV.  7,  xviii.  16. 

Within  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  there  is  a  hollow,  120  feet 
long  and  8  feet  deep,  which,  though  now  quite  dry,  is  pro- 
bably the  bed  of  the  pool  of  Bethesda,  mentioned  John  v.  2. 
On  the  west  side  of  the  pool  there  are  three  decayed  arches, 
supposed  to  be  relics  of  the  "five  porches." 

On  Mount  Zion  there  is  a  mosque,  said  to  be  built  over 
David's  sepulchre,  and  an  Armenian  church,  said  to  stand 
upon  the  site  of  the  high  priest  Caiaphas's  house.  On  the 
same  hill,  there  is  a  house,  once  a  convent,  now  inhabited 
by  Turks,  which  is  shown  as  the  very  one  where  the 
Lord's  supper  was  instituted,  and  where  the  Holy  Ghost 
descended  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  On  Mount  Zion,  also, 
is  the  Christian's  burial  place. 

Many  other  burial  places  filled  with  ancient  sepulchres 
are  to  be  found  about  Jerusalem,  one  of  which  is  indicated 
by  tradition  as  the  Potter's  field,  or  Field  of  Blood.  (Matt, 
xxvii.  7,  8,  Actsi.  19.) 

In  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat,  there  are  several  curious 
specimens  of  ancient  architecture.  One  of  these  is  called 
the  sepulchre  of  Jehoshaphat.  Another,  the  sepulchre  of 
Zechariah.  A  third  is  supposed  by  the  inhabitants  to  be 
the  monument  which  Absalom  erected  for  himself,  (2  Sam. 
xviii.  18,)  in  consequence  of  which  belief,  every  Jew, 
Christian,  and  Mohammedan,  who  passes  by,  throws  a 
stone  to  express  his  abhorrence  for  the  character  of  Absa- 
lom. On  the  north  side  of  the  city  are  the  sepulchres  of 
the  kings,  and  further  to  the  north-west  the  graves  of  the 
judges  of  Israel.  All  these,  however,  are  of  comparatively 
recent  origin.  North  of  the  garden  of  Gethsemane,  be- 
tween the  brook  Kedron  and  the  Mount  of  Olives,  are  the 
ruins  of  a  church  built  by  the  empress  Helena  over  the 
grave  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  In  a  chapel  at  this  spot, 
eighteen  lamps  are  constantly  kept  burning,  the  expense 
of  which  is  defrayed  partly  by  Mohammedans,  who  unite 
with  the  oriental  Christians  in  paying  peculiar  honours  to 
this  spot. 


PALESTINE.  155 

29.  Bethphage  and  Bethany  are  mentioned  together,  in 
the  account  of  Christ's  last  entrance  into  Jerusalem.  (Mark 
xi.  1,  Luke  xix.  29.)  They  were  situated  near  the  foot  of 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  towards  the  south-east.  From  Beth- 
phage Jesus  sent  his  disciples  to  procure  the  ass's  colt. 
This  village  has  entirely  disappeared. 

Bethany  was  the  residence  of  Lazarus,  whom  Christ 
raised  from  the  dead,  (John  xi. ,)  and  of  his  sisters,  Mary 
and  Martha.  Here,  in  the  house  of  Simon  the  leper,  Jesus 
was  anointed  with  precious  ointment;  (Matt.  xxvi.  6, 
Mark  xiv.  3,  John  xii.  1 — 3 ;)  and  here,  during  the  last 
days  of  his  life,  he  was  accustomed  to  retire  in  the  evening 
from  Jerusalem,  and  spend  the  night.  (Matt.  xxi.  17,  Mark 
xi.  11,  12.)  The  grave  of  Lazarus  is  still  visited  by 
pilgrims. 

30.  Bethlehem,  anciently  called  Ephrath,  (Gen.  xxxv. 
16,  19,  xlviii.  7,)  though  such  an  inconsiderable  place  as 
to  be  omitted  in  every  list  of  the  cities  of  Judah,  (Josh,  xv., 
Neh.  xi.  25.— See  also  Micah  v.  1,)  was  well  knov/n,  in 
early  times,  as  the  native  town  of  David ;  (on  which  ac- 
count it  is  called  the  city  of  David;  Luke  ii.  4,  11 ;)  and 
long  after,  became  still  more  sacred  and  celebrated  as  the 
birth-place  of  the  Saviour.  (Matt.  ii.  1,  Luke  ii.  4,  6.)  It 
still  retains  its  ancient  name,  and  is  situated  on  a  hill  over- 
looking a  deep  valley,  about  two  leagues  south  of  Jerusa- 
lem. The  aspect  of  the  country,  which,  for  some  distance 
south  of  Jerusalem,  is  very  uninviting,  becomes  more  attrac- 
tive in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bethlehem ;  the  soil  being 
such  as  would  richly  repay  the  toil  of  cultivation.  The 
town  contains  about  200  houses,  inhabited  by  Christians 
and  Mohammedans,  who  live  together  in  peace.  About 
two  hundred  paces  east  of  Bethlehem,  stands  the  celebrated 
church  of  the  Nativity,  and  adjoining  it  a  Franciscan  con- 
vent. A  subterraneous  chapel  in  this  church  is  said  to  have 
been  the  stable  in  which  Christ  was  born.  It  is  lighted  by 
thirty-two  lamps,  which  are  constantly  kept  burning, 
adorned  with  paintings,  and  furnished  with  an  organ.  An- 
other subterraneous  chapel  in  this  church,  is  called  the  ora- 
tory of  St.  Jerome,  who  is  said  to  have  made  his  translation 
of  the  Bible  in  this  place,  and  to  have  been  buried  here. 
Within  the  same  convent,  there  is  another  ancient  church 


156  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

called  the  church  of  St.  Catherine.  Besides  this  Francis- 
can convent,  there  is  an  Armenian  and  a  Greek  one. 

North-west  of  Bethlehem,  at  no  great  distance,  is  the 
grave  of  Rachel,  Jacob's  wife,  (Gen.  xxxv.  19,)  over 
which  there  is  a  monument  of  modern  date.  About  as  far 
eastward  is  a  small  but  beautiful  and  fruitful  plain,  where 
(tradition  says,)  the  shepherds  were  feeding  their  flocks  by 
night,  when  they  received  from  the  angel  the  intelligence 
of  the  Redeemer's  birth.  (Luke  ii.  9,  10.)  Here  are  the 
ruins  of  a  church  built  by  the  empress  Helena. 

South  of  Bethlehem  there  are  three  pools  or  reservoirs, 
supposed  to  be  the  same  mentioned  Eccl.  ii.  6.  These  re- 
servoirs are  thirty  ells  deep,  above  two  hundred  long,  and 
above  one  hundred  wide,  and  are  to  this  day  called  Solo- 
mon's pools. 

31.  Tekoah  was  situated  not  far  to  the  south-east  of 
Bethlehem,  on  the  borders  of  the  great  wilderness  frequent- 
ed by  herdsmen.  Amos  tells  us,  that  he  was  "  among  the 
herdsmen  of  Tekoah;"  (i.  1.)  It  was  one  of  the  posts 
fortified  by  Rehoboam,  (2  Chron.  xi.  6,)  but  has  now 
wholly  disappeared. 

32.  Hebron,  originally  called  Kirjath-arba,  (i.  e.  the  city 
of  Arba,)  "  which  Arba  was  a  great  man  among  the  Ana- 
kims,"  (Josh.  xiv.  15,)  was  one  of  the  oldest  cities  in  Pales- 
tine. In  the  neighbourhood  of  this  place  Abraham  abode 
after  he  parted  with  Lot,  (Gen.  xiii.  18,)  and  bought  a  field 
with  a  cave,  in  which  to  bury  his  dead.  (Gen.  xxiii.)  In 
this  cave  were  buried,  besides  Abraham  himself,  his  son  Isaac, 
his  grandson  Jacob,  with  their  wives  Rebecca  and  Leah,  and 
his  great  grandson  Joseph.  (Gen.  xxiii.  19,  xxv.  10,  xlix. 
29—33,  1.  12,  13.)  When  the  Hebrews  invaded  Palestine, 
Hebron  was  the  residence  of  a  king,  (Josh.  xii.  10,)  named 
Hohara,  who  combined  with  four  other  Canaanitish  kings 
against  Israel,  but  was  defeated  and  destroyed  by  Joshua. 
(Josh.  X.  3,  4,  22 — ^27.)  After  which,  the  city  being  taken, 
w^as  assigned  to  Caleb,  (Josh.  xiv.  6 — 14,)  agreeably  to  a 
promise  given  him  by  Moses.  (Num.  xiii.  30 — 33,  xiv.  5, 
24.)  Afterwards  it  was  made  a  city  of  refuge,  and  given 
to  the  priests.  (Josh.  xxi.  11,  xx.  7.) 

When  David  succeeded  Saul  upon  the  throne  of  Israel, 
he  made  choice  of  Hebron  as  his  royal  residence,  and  con- 


,  PALESTINE.  157 

tinued  there  till  Jerusalem  was  taken.  (2  Sam.  ii.  1,  v. 
4 — 9.)  On  the  division  of  the  nation  under  Rehoboam, 
Hebron  belonged  to  the  kingdom  of  Judah.  (-2  Chron.  xi. 
10.)  At  the  present  day,  Hebron  is  a  flourishing  town 
called  El-khalil,  well  known  for  its  glass  manufactory.  The 
inhabitants  are  engaged  in  perpetual  hostilities  with  those 
of  Bethlehem,  which  prevent  its  being  visited  by  pilgrims. 
The  empress  Helena  built  a  splendid  church  over  the 
graves  of  the  patriarchs,  which  is  now  a  mosque. 

33.  Debir,  formerly  called  Kirjath-sepher,  (or  the  city  of 
the  book,)  and  also  Kirjath-sannah,  (Josh.  xv.  49,)  was 
taken  by  Joshua  from  its  king,  (Josh.  x.  38,  -39,)  and  given 
to  the  tribe  of  Judah.  The  precise  situation  of  this  place 
is  now  unknown,  but  it  was  no  doubt  near  to  Hebron.  It 
was  retaken  by  the  Canaanites  after  its  first  conquest,  and 
again  conquered  by  Othniel,  Caleb's  nephew.  (Josh.  xv. 
15 — 17.)  There  was  another  Debir,  beyond  Jordan,  in  the 
tribe  of  Gad.  (Josh.  xiii.  26.) 

34.  Beersheba  was  situated  twenty  miles  south  of  He- 
bron, at  the  southern  extremity  of  Canaan  ;  for  which  rea- 
son the  phrase  "  from  Dan  to  Beersheba,"  is  used  to  denote 
the  whole  length  of  the  country,  and  "  from  Beersheba  to 
Mount  Ephraim,"  the  whole  length  of  the  kingdom  of  Ju- 
dah. (2  Chron.  xix.  4.)  Beersheba  was  at  first  merely  the 
name  of  a  well  dug  by  Abraham,  (Gen.  xxi.  25,  30,  xxvi. 
15,  18,)  near  which  he  long  resided,  (Gen.  xxi.  32,  xxii. 
19,)  and  his  son  Isaac  after  him.  (Gen.  xxvi.  26 — 33.)  In 
Josh.  XV.  28,  it  is  assigned  to  the  tribe  of  Judah,  but  in 
xix.  2,  to  Simeon.  (See  p.  113.)  Beersheba  was  the  resi- 
dence of  Samuel's  sons,  Joel  and  Abiah,  when  they  became 
colleagues  of  their  father.  (1  Sam.  viii.  2.)  In  later  times, 
it  was  a  seat  of  idolatrous  worship.  (Amos  v.  5,  viii.  13, 
14.)  On  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  captivity,  Beersheba 
was  again  re-peopled.  (Neh.  xi.  27,  30.) 

35.  Goshen  was  one  of  the  cities  of  the  tribe  of  Judah. 
(Josh.  XV.  51.)  The  surrounding  region  was  called  the 
land  of  Goshen,  and  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the  dis- 
trict of  the  same  name,  where  the  Israelites  dwelt  in  Egypt. 
(See  p.  64.) 

O 


158  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

36.  Hormah.  (Josh.  xii.  14,  Judg.  i.  17,  Num.  xiv.  45, 
xxi.  2,  3,  Josh.  XV.  30,  xix.  4,  5,  1  Chron.  iv.  30,  1  Sam. 
XXX.  30.) 

37.  Rimmon,  like  Beersheba,  is  sometimes  used  to  de- 
note the  southern  extremity  of  Judah.  (Zeeh.  xiv.  10.) 
This  place  also  belonged  first,  to  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh. 
XV.  32,)  but  was  afterwards  assigned  to  Simeon.  (Josh.  xix. 
7,  1  Chron.  iv.  32.) 

38.  Moladdk  was  also  one  of  the  cities  assigned  first  to 
Judah  and  afterwards  lo  Simeon.  (Josh.  xv.  26,  xix.  2, 
1  Chron.  iv.  2a) 

39.  Zihlag  was  situated  far  south,  on  the  borders  of 
Edom,  near  the  brook  Besor.  (See  p.  100.)  It  was  given 
first  to  Judah,  and  afterwards  to  Simeon ;  (Josh.  xv.  31, 
xix.  5 ;)  but,  in  the  time  of  Saul,  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
Philistines.  By  Achish,  king  of  Gath,  it  was  given  to  Da- 
vid ;  (1  Sam.  xxvii.  5,  6 ;)  but,  during  his  absence,  was 
burnt  by  the  Amalekites,  ifor  which  outrage  he  took  ample 
vengeance.  (1  Sam.  xxx.  1 — 6.) 

40.  Juttah  (Josh.  xv.  55,)  is  supposed,  by  some,  to  have 
been  the  city  where  the  parents  of  John  the  Baptist  dwelt, 
(Luke  i.  39,)  as  it  was  situated  in  "  the  hill  country,"  and 
was  also  a  city  of  the  priests.  (Josh.  xxi.  16.)  Its  precise 
situation  is  unknown,  as  well  as  that  of  Beth-tappuah,  Esh- 
termoa  and  Bezek 

41.  Aphek,  where  the  Israelites  were  twice  defeated  by 
the  Philistines,  with  the  loss  of  the  ark,  (1  Sam.  iv.  1 — 11, 
V.  1,)  was  situated  on  the  borders  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
west  of  Jerusalem. 

42.  Dor,  one  of  the  old  Canaanitish  royal  cities,  (Josh. 
xii.  23. — See  also  Josh.  xvii.  11,  1  Chron.  vii.  29,  Judg.  i. 
27,  1  Kings  iv.  11,)  is  now  a  little  town  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean coast,  between  Carmel  and  Caesarea. 

43.  C(2sarea,  by  some  writers  called  CtBsarea  of  Pales- 
tine, to  distinguish  it  from  Caesarea  Philippi,  (see  p.  120,) 
was  situated  on  the  Mediterranean  coast.     The  town  was 


'  PALESTINE.  159 

adorned  with  splendid  edifices,  and  furnished  with  a  fine 
artificial  harbour,  by  Herod  the  Great,  who  called  it  Caesa- 
rea,  in  honour  of  Augustus  Caesar,  to  whom  he  built  a 
tenaple  here.  It  was  inhabited  both  by  Greeks  and  Jews, 
between  whom  dissensions  were  perpetually  arising,  which 
gradually  led  the  way  to  the  general  rebellion  thai  occa- 
sioned the  destruction  of  Jerusalem.  After  that  event,  it 
became  the  chief  city  of  Palestine,  and  the  residence  of  the 
Roman  governor.  (Acts  xxiii.  23 — 33,  xxiv.  27,  xxv.  1.) 
Cornelius,  the  centurion,  whose  conversion  is  related  in  the 
tenth  chapter  of  Acts,  resided  at  this  place.  The  apostle 
Paul  was  repeatedly  at  Caesarea.  (Acts  ix.  29,  30,  xviii. 
21,  22,  xxi.  7,  8,  9.)  The  last  time,  he  was  sent  there  by 
Claudius  Lysias,  the  chief  captain  at  Jerusalem,  and  re- 
mained there  in  imprisonment  two  years.  It  was  at  Caesa- 
rea that  he  defended  himself  before  Felix,  Festus,  and 
Agrippa,  and  appealed  to  Caesar,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  was  sent  to  Rome.  (Acts  xxiii.  23 — 33,  xxvi.  27,  xxvii, 
1.)  In  the  beginning  of  the  twelfth  century,  Caesarea  was 
taken  by  the  crusaders,  under  Baldwin  I.  king  of  Jerusa- 
lem. At  the  end  of  the  same  century,  it  was  conquered  by 
the  celebrated  Saladin.  It  is  now  a  miserable  hamlet  of 
fishers'  huts,  surrounded  by  stately  ruins. 

43.  Antipatris,  between  Jerusalem  and  Caesarea,  was 
founded  by  Herod  the  Great,  and  called  after  his  father. 
Here  Paul  was  brought  by  the  Roman  guard,  at  night,  on 
his  way  to  Caesarea.  (Acts  xxiii.  31,  32.)  The  place  has 
now  disappeared. 

44.  Lod  or  Lydda,  a  city  of  Benjamin,  (Neh.  xi.  35, 
Ezra  ii.  33,)  near  Joppa,  (Acts  ix.  38,)  where  Peter  healed 
Eneas  of  the  palsy,  (33—35,)  was  burnt  by  the  Romans 
during  the  war  in  Palestine,  while  the  inhabitants  were 
attending  the  feast  of  tabernacles,  at  Jerusalem.  It  was 
afterwards  rebuilt  under  the  name  of  Diospolis,  or  the  city 
of  Jupiter.  Lydda  was,  in  the  twelfth  century,  the  see  of 
the  bishop  of  St.  George's;  so  called,  from  the  cathedral 
church  built  over  the  grave  of  St.  George,  a  christian  who 
is  said  to  have  sutfered  martyrdom  there,  in  one  of  the 
early  persecutions.     The  place  is  now  in  ruins. 

45.  JaphOj  called   by   the   Greeks  Joppa,  and  by  the 


160  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Arabs  Jaffa,  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  Asia.  It  belonged 
to  the  tribe  of  Dan,  (Josh.  xix.  46,)  and  was  celebrated  for 
its  harbour  from  the  earliest  times.  The  timber  hewn 
upon  Mount  Lebanon,  for  Solomon,  was  floated  to  this 
port.  (2  Chron.  ii.  16.)  When  the  prophet  Jonah  fled  to 
avoid  the  duty  which  had  been  assigned  to  him,  he  came 
to  Joppa  to  embark  for  Tarshish.  (Jon.  i.  3.)  Here  Peter 
raised  Tabitha  from  the  dead ;  (Acts  ix.  36 — 42 ;)  and  here, 
in  the  house  of  Simon,  a  tanner,  he  saw  an  emblematical 
vision,  indicating  that  the  gospel  should  be  preached,  not 
to  the  Jews  only,  but  also  to  the  Gentiles.  (Acts  x.  9,  xi.  1.) 
In  the  war  with  the  Romans,  Joppa  was  burnt,  but  soon 
rebuilt.  Afterwards,  however,  it  became  the  strong-hold 
of  pirates,  who  infested  the  neighbouring  seas,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  it  was  utterly  destroyed.  It  was  again 
rebuilt  in  the  time  of  the  crusades,  and  soon  became  flour- 
ishing, as  being  the  only  good  harbour  on  the  coast  of 
Palestine.  It  still  prospers,  being  the  landing  place  of  all 
pilgrims  who  visit  the  Holy  Land,  and  the  port  through 
which  almost  all  imports  and  exports  pass.  The  town  is 
surrounded  with  gardens,  and  orchards  of  fig,  apple,  citron, 
and  pomegranate  trees. 

46.  Zorah  was  a  city  belonging  first,  to  Judah,  (Josh. 
XV.  33,)  and  afterwards  to  Dan.  (Josh.  xix.  41.)  Here 
Samson  was  born.  (Judg.  xiii.  2,  24.)  Not  far  from  Zo- 
rah, was  the  place  called  Mahaneh-dan,  or  the  Camp  of 
Dan,  because  six  hundred  Danites  here  assembled,  when 
about  to  migrate  towards  the  north,  in  search  of  a  new 
residence.  (Judg.  xviii.  11,  12. — See  p.  126.) 

47.  Beth'Shemesh,  a  city  of  the  priests,  (Josh.  xxi.  16,) 
situated  on  the  borders  of  Dan  and  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  10,) 
is  sometimes  called  "  Beth-shemesh,  which  belongeth  to 
Judah,"  (2  Kings  xiv.  11,  2  Chron.  xxv.  21,)  to  distin- 
guish it  from  another  Beth-shemesh  in  Naphtali,  (Josh. 
xix.  38,  Judg.  i.  33,)  and  a  third  in  the  land  of  Egypt. 
(Jer.  xliii.  13.)  When  the  Philistines  were  smitten,  on 
account  of  the  ark  which  they  had  taken  in  battle,  they 
sent  it  to  Beth-shemesh,  where  some  of  the  people  looking 
into  it,  a  pestilence  swept  off  more  than  fifty  thousand* 

*  Some  have  supposed  this  to  be  an  error  of  a  copyist  for  Jive  thousand. 


#  PALESTINE.  161 

men.  It  was  then  removed  to  Kirjath-jearim.  (1  Sam.  vi. 
19 — 21. — See  p.  144.)  A  battle  was  fought  near  Beth- 
shemesh,  between  Amaziah,  king  of  Judah,  and  Joash, 
king  of  Israel,  in  which  the  latter  was  defeated  and  taken 
prisoner.  ("2  Kings  xiv.  11 — 13.)  In  the  reign  of  Ahaz, 
king  of  Judah,  the  Philistines  took  possession  of  Beth-she- 
mesh.  (2  Chron.  xxviii.  18.) 

48.  There  were  two  towns  called  Ajalon ;  one  in  the 
valley  of  Ajalon,  (see  p.  89,)  in  Dan  ;  (Josh.  xix.  42;)  the 
other  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon.  Here  Elon,  the  judge,  was 
buried.  (Judg.  xii.  12.) 

49.  Timnath  or  Timnah,  situated  on  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  was  one  of  the  oldest  towns  of 
Palestine.  It  is  mentioned  in  Gen.  xxxviii.  12.  In  Sam- 
son's time  it  belonged  to  the  Philistines ;  (Judg.  xiv.  1,  2, 
XV.  1 — 6;)  and  though  it  appears  to  have  been  subject  to 
David,  Solomon,  and  their  successors,  we  find  it  again  in  the 
hands  of  the  Philistines.  (2  Chron.  xxviii.  18.) 

50.  Libnah  was  a  city  of  the  priests,  (Josh.  xxi.  13,  1 
Chron.  vi.  57,)  within  the  bounds  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  42.) 
In  the  reign  of  Joram,  the  inhabitants  of  this  place  revolted 
from  him.  (2  Kings  viii.  22,  2  Chron.  xxi.  10.)  In  the 
reign  of  Hezekiah,  Libnah  was  taken  by  the  Assyrians. 
(2  Kings  xix.  8,  Isa.  xxxvii.  8.)  There  are  two  other 
places  of  the  same  name  mentioned  in  Scripture — one  in 
the  wilderness  of  Mount  Sinai,  (Num.  xxxiii.  20,)  the  other 
in  the  tribe  of  Asher.  (Josh.  xix.  26.) 

51.  Makkedah  was  one  of  the  royal  Canaanitish  cities, 
(Josh.  xii.  16,)  conquered  by  Joshua ;  (x.  3,  9 — 14,  22 — 
27.)  In  the  neighbourhood  was  the  cave  where  five  kings 
concealed  themselves  after  their  defeat. 

52.  Lachish,  (2  Chron.  xi.  9,  Mic.  i.  13,  Neh.  xi.  30,) 
whose  king  was  one  of  the  five  just  mentioned,  (Josh.  x.  3, 
9 — 14,  2^-— 27,)  and  whose  inhabitants  so  long  withstood 
Nebuchadnezzar.  (Jer.  xxxiv.  7.) 

53.  Asekah,   (Josh.   xv.   35,   Jer.  xxxiv.  7,)  between 


162  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

which  place  and  Shochoh,  the  Philistines  were  mustered 
before  Goliath's  death.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  1.) 

54.  Shochoh,  the  name  of  two  places  in  Judea,  one  on 
the  plain,  the  other  in  the  mountains,  (Josh.  xv.  35,  1  Sam 
xvii.  1,)  probably  not  far  apart. 

55.  Keilah  (Josh.  xv.  44,)  was  delivered  by  David  from 
the  Philistines,  (1  Sam.xxiii.  5,)  and  is  the  place  where  the 
prophet  Habakkuk  is  supposed  to  have  been  buried. 

56.  Adullam,  (Josh.  xii.  15,  xv.  35,  2  Chron.  xi.  7,  Neh. 
xi.  3,)  one  of  the  oldest  towns  of  Canaan,  (Gen.  xxxviii.  1, 
12,  20,)  in  a  cave  near  which  David  concealed  himself. 
(1  Sam.  xxii.  1,  2.) 

57.  Eglon,  (Josh.  xv.  39,)  between  Lachish  and  Hebron. 
(Josh.  X.  35,  36.) 

58.  *^shan,  (Josh.  xv.  42,  xix.  7,  1  Chron.  vi.  59,)  situ- 
ated about  15  Roman  miles  west  of  Jerusalem. 

59.  Ether,  (Josh.  xv.  42,)  one  of  the  places  among  which 
David  distributed  the  spoil  won  from  the  Amalekites. 
(1  Sam.  XXX.  27.) 

60.  Zenan,  on  the  Mediterranean  ;  (Josh.  xv.  37 ;)  per- 
haps the  same  with  Zaanan.  (Mic.  i.  11.) 


LAND  OF  THE  PHILISTINES. 

It  appears,  from  Gen.  x.  13,  14,  that  the  Philistines 
were  of  Egyptian  origin,  though  they  came  to  Palestine 
immediately  from  Caphtor,  (Amos  ix.  7,)  which  is  supposed 
to  have  been  the  same  with  the  island  Crete.  On  their 
arrival  in  Canaan,  they  drove  out  the  Avhn  from  the  mari- 
time region  between  Joppa  and  the  Egyptian  border,  and 
took  up  their  abode  there,  (Deut.  ii.  23.)  Here  they  were 
living  in  the  time  of  Abraham,  governed  by  a  king  who 
dwelt  at  Gerar.  (Gen.  xxvi.  1,  xx.  2.)  When  the  He- 
brews, under  Joshua,  invaded  Canaan,  the  Philistines  were 
divided  into  five  principalities,  under  as  many  lords.  (Josh, 


PALESTINE.  163 

xiii.  3.)  In  the  time  of  Saul,  we  read  of  **  Achish,  king 
of  Gath,"  (1  Sam.  xxi.  10,  xxvii.  2,)  in  the  land  of  the 
Philistines.  This  prince  is,  in  the  title  of  the  3^^4th  Psalm, 
called  Abimelech ;  and  as  the  king  who  was  Abraham's 
contemporary,  bore  the  same  name,  it  is  probable  that  it 
was  a  royal  title,  similar  to  that  of  Pharaoh  in  Egypt,  and 
Caesar  in  Rome.  With  the  Israelites,  the  Philistines  were, 
from  the  beginning,  in  perpetual  war.  (Judg.  x.  11.)  Many 
battles  between  them  are  recorded  in  the  history  of  Saul 
and  David,  with  various  results.  (1  Sam.  iv.  vii.  13,  xvii. 
2  Sam.  V.  17,  viii.  1,  xxiii.  9.)  The  Philistines  were 
tributary  to  Jehoshaphat,  king  of  Judah,  but  after  his  death 
revolted.  (2  Chron.  xviii.  11,  xxi.  16.)  They  were  again 
subdued  by  Uzziah,  who  built  cities  in  their  territory  ; 
(2  Chron.  xxvi.  6,  7 ;)  but  in  the  reign  of  his  son  Ahaz, 
they  took  several  cities  of  Judah.  Nevertheless,  Isaiah 
represents  ^hem  as  rejoicing  at  the  death  of  that  king,  be- 
cause the  rod  of  him  that  smote  them  was  broken.  (Isa.  xiv. 
29.)  Hezekiah  defeated  them,  (2  Kings  xviii.  8,)  and, 
soon  after,  Ashdod,  one  of  their  cities,  was  taken  by  the 
Assyrians.  (2  Kings  xviii.  17,  Isa.  xx.  1.)  After  the  de- 
struction of  Jerusalem,  Jeremiah  and  Ezekiel  threaten  the 
Philistines  with  a  similar  calamity  ;  (Jer.  xlvii.  Ezek.  xxv. 
15 ;)  which  probably  came  to  pass,  as  we  read  no  more  of 
them  in  history. 

The  towns  mentioned  in  Scripture,  as  belonging  to  the 
Philistines,  are: — 

1.  Jabneh  or  Jabneel,  (Josh.  xv.  11,  2  Chron.  xxvi.  6,) 
situated  a  few  miles  west  of  Ramlah,  (see  p.  145,)  on  the 
road  to  Gaza.  By  the  Greeks  and  Romans  it  was  called 
Jamnia,  In  later  times  a  celebrated  Jewish  school  flourished 
here. 

2.  Ekron  was  given  by  Joshua  first,  to  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
(Josh.  XV.  45,  Judg.  i.  18,)  and  afterwards  to  that  of  Dan ; 
(Josh.  xix.  43 ;)  but  seems  to  have  been  always  in  the 
hands  of  the  Philistines.  (1  Sam.  vi.  17,  Amos  i.  8,  Zeph. 
ii.  4,  Jer.  xxv.  20,  Zech.  ix.  5,  7.)  When  the  Philistines 
took  the  ark  of  the  covenant,  they  carried  it,  first  to  Ash- 
dod, and  then  to  Ekron.  (1  Sam.  v.  7—10.)  To  Ekron 
Ahaziah,  king  of  Judah,  sent,  when  sick,  to  inquire  of 
Beel-zebub,  a  god  of  the  Philistines.  (2  Kings  ii.  1 — 16.) 


164  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

3.  Gath,  within  the  bounds  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  was,  in 
the  days  of  David,  the  residence  of  a  Philistine  king,  named 
Achish,  with  whom  David  himself  sought  refuge  twice, 
when  his  life  was  sought  by  Saul.  (1  Sam.  xxi.  10 — 15, 
xxvii.  1 — 7.)  When  David,  however,  became  king,  he 
prosecuted  the  war  against  the  Philistines,  with  far  more 
zeal  and  success  than  his  predecessor,  in  the  course  of  it 
taking  Gath  with  its  dependencies.  (1  Chron.  xviii.  1.) 
Yet  when  he  retired  before  Absalom,  he  was  accompa- 
nied by  a  guard  of  six  hundred  men  from  Gath.  (2  Sam. 
XV.  18.)  In  the  beginning  of  the  reign  of  Solomon,  we 
find  Achish  still  reigning,  or  another  of  the  same  name ; 
(1  Kings  ii.  39 ;)  but  the  place  seems  to  have  been  taken 
soon  after  by  Solomon.  (1  Kings  iv.  24,  2  Chron.  xi.  8.) 
In  the  reign  of  Joash,  it  was  conquered  by  Hazael,  king  of 
Syria,  (2  Kings  xii.  17,)  but  was  soon  retaken.  (2  Kings 
xiii.  25.)  By  Uzziah  the  walls  were  broken  down.  (2 
Chron.  xxvi.  6.)  After  this  time,  it  is  mentioned  no  more 
in  sacred  history. 

4.  Ashdod,  (Josh.  xv.  46,  47,)  is  mentioned  (Josh.  xiii. 
3,)  as  one  of  the  five  cities  of  the  Philistines.  Here  was 
the  temple  of  Dagon,  in  which  the  Philistines  placed  the 
ark.  (1  Sam.  v.  1,  2,  5.)  The  walls  of  this  city,  also, 
were  broken  down  by  Uzziah.  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  6.)  When 
Sargon,  king  of  Assyria,  undertook  an  expedition  against 
Egypt,  his  general  fought  against  Ashdod,  and  took  it.  (Is. 
XX.  1.)  It  was  afterwards  taken  and  dismantled  by  Psam- 
metichus,  king  of  Egypt,  in  consequence  of  which  Jere- 
miah speaks  of  it  as  "  the  remnant  of  Ashdod  ;"  (xxv.  20.) 
After  the  return  of  the  Jews  from  captivity,  the  people  of 
Ashdod  Opposed  the  rebuilding  of  the  temple ;  notwith- 
standing which,  the  Jews  continued  to  intermarry  with 
them,  contrary  to  God's  command.  (Neh.  iv.  7,  xiii.  23 — 
27.)  By  the  Greeks  Ashdod  was  called  Azotus,  under 
which  name  it  is  mentioned  Acts  viii.  39,  40.  It  is  now 
in  ruins,  and  is  famous  only  for  its  scorpions. 

5.  Askelon,  on  the  Mediterranean  sea,  five  miles  north 
of  Gaza,  (Josh.  xiii.  3,  1  Sam.  vi.  17,  Amos  i.  8,  Zeph.  ii. 
4,  Judg.  i.  18,)  does  not  appear  to  have  been  ever  taken 
by  Solomon  or  David.  In  the  fourth  century  it  was  a 
bishop's  see.     In  the  time  of  the  crusades,  it  was  taken  by 


PALESTINE. 


165 


the  Christians;  but  was  afterwards  retaken  by  Saladin, 
who  reduced  it  to  ashes.  After  it  had  been  partially  re- 
built, it  was  again  destroyed  by  the  mutual  consent  of 
Christians  and  Mohammedans.  Since  that  time  it  has 
been  a  heap  of  ruins. 

6.  Gaza  is  the  most  southern  point  in  the  sea-coast  of 
Palestine.  (Gen.  x.  19.)  It  was,  for  some  time,  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  tribe  of  Judah ;  (Josh.  xv.  47,  Judg.  i.  18 ;) 
but  seems  to  have  been  soon  regained  by  the  Philistines, 
and  to  have  afterwards  continued  in  their  hands.  (Judg. 
xvi.  1—3,  21—31,  1  Sam.  vi.  17.)  It  was  once  taken 
by  Alexander  the  Great.  ,  .         .  , 

In  the  time  of  Eusebius,  it  was  a  flourishing  city,  and  a 
bishop's  see.  In  634  it  was  taken  by  the  Saracens,  in  1152 
by  Baldwin,  king  of  Jerusalem,  and  in  1187  by  Saladin. 
At  present  it  consists  of  three  small  villages,  in  a  pleasant 
situation,  and  abounds  in  ancient  ruins. 

7.  South-east  of  Gaza,  ''between  Kadesh  and  Shur," 
(Gen.  XX.  1,)  was  Gerar,  (2  Chron.  xiv.  12—14,)  the  resi- 
dence of  a  Philistine  king  or  prince.  (Gen.  xxvi.  8.)  Both 
Abraham  and  Isaac  resorted  to  this  place,  when  compeUed 
by  a  prevailing  famine  to  leave  their  usual  residence,  and 
both  here  practised  a  similar  deception  on  Abimelech.  (Gen. 

XX.  1,  xxvi.  1.)  .  ,      1     /r^ 

The  valley  of  Gerar,  where  Isaac  dwelt,  (Gen.  xxvi. 
17,)  was  no  doubt  in  the  neighbourhood.  In  this  valley, 
Constantine  the  Great  built  a  monastery. 


PHENZCZA. 

Phenicia,  or  as  it  was  called  in  the  time  of  Christ,  %o- 
Phenicia,  (because  then  included  in  the  bounds  of  Syria,) 
is  a  narrow  tract  of  land  along  the  sea-coast,  about  80  miles 
in  length,  and  12  in  breadth;  bounded,  on  the  east  by 
Mount  Lebanon,  Samaria,  and  Galilee,  and  stretching  from 
the  island  of  Arvad,  or  Aradus,  on  the  north  to  Sidon  on 
the  south.     This  region  was  reckoned  a  part  ot  the  lana 


166  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

of  Canaan,  as  appears  from  Matt.  xv.  22,  24,  where  the 
same  person  is  described  as  a  woman  of  Canaan,  who,  in 
Mark  vii.  26,  is  called  a  Syro-Phenician. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  uneven,  being  broken  by 
chains  of  hills,  some  of  which  project  into  the  sea,  forming 
abrupt  promontories.  Here  and  there,  however,  between 
the  mountains  and  the  sea,  there  are  plains  of  moderate 
extent. 

Phenicia  is  watered  by  a  number  of  considerable  rivers, 
which  flow  from  Mount  Lebanon  into  the  sea.  The  largest 
and  most  northerly  of  these  was  called,  by  the  ancient 
Greeks  Eleutheros,  and  by  the  Arabs  of  the  present  day, 
Nahr-el-kebir,  (the  Great  River.) 

Some  miles  further  south,  is  the  Nahr-kadisha,  or  Holy 
River. 

A  little  to  the  south  of  Gebal,  is  the  River  of  Abraham, 
called  by  the  Greeks  Adonis,  from  a  heathen  deity  of  that 
name,  who,  in  his  mortal  state,  is  said  to  have  been  wound- 
ed by  a  wild  boar,  on  Mount  Lebanon.  His  name  was 
given  to  this  river,  because,  at  the  time  of  the  year  when 
his  death  was  celebrated,  the  waters  of  the  stream  were 
always  red.  This  circumstance  is  occasioned  by  the  pas- 
sage of  the  stream  through  the  red  earth  of  Mount  Leba- 
non, which  imparts  its  colour  to  the  water,  when  softened 
and  washed  down  in  the  rainy  season. 

Between  Gebal  and  Beyroot  is  the  mouth  of  the  Nahr- 
kalb,  or  Dog  River,  called  by  the  Greeks  the  Wolf  River. 

South  of  the  Beyroot  flows  the  Damir,  anciently  called 
Tamyras,  a  beautiful  clear  stream,  bordered,  throughout  its' 
course,  with  laurel-trees  and  roses. 

Further  towards  Tyre,  the  Kasnich,  or  Leitane,  rises  in 
a  wild  glen,  and  meanders  through  delightful  meadows. 

Besides  these  larger  rivers,  there  are  many  minor  streams, 
and  innumerable  brooks. 

The  climate  of  Phenicia  is  mild.  The  spring  and  autumn 
are  very  pleasant,  and  the  summer  moderately  warm,  ex- 
cept on  the  sea-coast,  where  the  heat  is  frequently  oppres- 
sive. The  winter  is  so  mild,  that  the  most  delicate  trees 
and  plants  continue  green,  and  thrive  throughout  the  sea- 
son, in  the  open  fields. 

The  soil  is  very  fertile.  Besides  wheat,  rye,  barley,  and 
the  cotton-plant,  it  produces,  in  abundance,  pomegranates, 
figs,  dates,  olives,  and  other  fruits,  of  the  best  quality, 


PALESTINE.  167 

while  its  vines  furnish  excellent  wines.  In  some  parts,  too, 
the  mulberry  and  the  sugar-cane  are  cultivated.  This  rich 
abundance,  in  the  midst  of  the  disadvantages  of  an  imper- 
fect agriculture  and  a  despotic  government,  evinces  the 
truth  of  the  descriptions  given  by  the  ancients  of  the  wealth 
and  splendour  of  Phenicia.  At  the  present  time,  however, 
its  cities,  once  so  celebrated  for  their  trade  and  opulence] 
are  nothing  more  than  hamlets  erected  upon  ruins. 

1.  Arvad,  or  Aradus,  now  called  Ruwad,  is  situated  on 
a  rocky  island  at  the  northern  extremity  of  Phenicia.  It 
was  probably  founded  by  the  Arvadites,  one  of  the  Canaan- 

itish  tribes  which  settled  in  this  region.  (Gen.  x.  18. See 

p.  104.)  In  the  time  of  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  (nearly  600 
years  before  Christ,)  the  Arvadites  were  in  the  service  of 
the  Tyrians,  both  as  mariners  and  soldiers.  (Ezek.  xxvii. 
8,  11.)  This  island  makes  a  fine  appearance  at  a  distance  ; 
but  the  town  is,  at  present,  totally  deserted. 

2.  Sumrah,  a  ruinous  village,  about  24  miles  south-east 
of  Tortosa,  is  probably  the  remnant  of  an  ancient  city 
founded  by  the  Zemarites,  (Gen.  x.  18,)  and  called  after 
their  name. 

3.  Five  miles  south-east  of  Sumrah,  and  about  25  north 
of  Tripoli,  are  the  ruins  of  Arka,  the  seat  of  the  ancient 
Arkites.  (Gen.  x.  17.)  The  site  is  a  delightful  one,  being 
directly  opposite  the  northern  extremity  of  Lebanon,  and 
commanding  a  delightful  prospect.  On  the  summit  of  a 
neighbouring  hill,  there  once  stood  a  castle,  in  ancient 
times,  esteemed  impregnable.  West  of  this  hill  is  the  deep 
valley  of  Acca,  through  which  flows  a  stream  of  the  same 


4.  The  village  of  Sin,  at  the  south-western  extremity  of 
Lebanon,  stands,  probably,  upon  the  site  of  the  city  of  the 
Sinites,  another  old  Phenician  tribe.  (Gen.  x.  17.) 

5.  Tripoli,  situated  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Lebanon,  upon 
the  Kadisha,  was  built  by  three  Phenician  states,  Aradus, 
Tyre,  and  Sidon,  and  thence  called  Tripolis,  or  the  triple 
city.  It  was  once  a  great  commercial  mart,  and  has  still 
considerable  trade,  its  harbour  being  the  best  upon  the 


168  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Syrian  coast.     It  is  surrounded  with  orchards,  and  abounds 
with  fruit,  but  is  exceedingly  unhealthy. 

6.  Jxblah,  or  Jihail,  the  Gehal  of  the  Old  Testament, 
called  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans  By  bios,  is  situated  on  an 
eminence  near  the  sea.  The  land  of  the  Giblites,  men- 
tioned in  Josh.  xiii.  5,  is  the  region  round  about  this  place. 
In  Ezek.  xxvii.  9,  the  inhabitants  of  Gebal  are  spoken  of 
as  skilled  in  the  art  of  ship-building.  The  place  is  now  in 
ruins. 

7.  Beyroot,  the  ancient  Berytus,  is  situated  to  the  west 
of  Jiblah,  on  a  peninsula ;  having,  on  the  north,  a  bay,  into 
which  the  river  Magoras,  now  called  the  river  of  Beyroot, 
empties ;  and,  on  the  east,  a  hill  covered  with  country- 
houses,  mulberry-trees,  and  vines.  It  contains  above  12,000 
inhabitants,  and  is  the  principal  commercial  place  upon  the 
coast  of  Syria.  The  principal  exports  are  silk  and  cotton. 
It  has,  of  late  years,  been  more  known  as  a  missionary  sta- 
tion. Some  suppose  that  Beyroot  is  the  Berothai  of  2  Sam. 
viii.  6,  and  the  Berothah  of  Ezek.  xlvii.  16. 

8.  Sidon,  or  Zidon,  one  of  the  oldest  cities  of  Phenicia, 
received  its  name,  no  doubt,  from  Sidon,  the  eldest  son  of 
Canaan,  (Gen.  x.  15,)  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  this  region. 
In  Jacob's  benediction  of  his  sons,  (Gen.  xlix.  13,)  he  pro- 
phesies, that  Zehulon's  border  should  be  unto  Zidon.  It  is 
called  great  Zidon  in  Josh.  xi.  8,  and  xix.  28 ;  in  the  latter 
of  which  places  it  is  mentioned,  that  the  territory  of  the 
tribe  of  Asher  included  Zidon.  In  Judg.  i.  31,  iii.  3,  how- 
ever, we  find  that  the  Zidonians  were  not  driven  out ;  and 
in  Judg.  X.  12,  they  are  mentioned  among  the  nations  by 
whom  Israel  was  oppressed.  Afterwards  there  seems  to 
have  been  peace  between  them ;  for,  in  Judg.  xviii.  7,  it 
is  said,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Laish  dwelt  quiet  and  secure, 
after  the  manner  of  the  Sidonians.  Sidon  appears  to  have 
been  older  than  Tyre  ;  for  the  latter  is  not  mentioned  with 
it  in  Gen.  x.  15 — 18.  The  name  Sidon  appears  to  have 
been  applied,  of  old,  to  all  Phenicia. 

It  appears,  from  Jer.  xxvii.  3,  xxv.  22,  that  Tyre  and 
Sidon  were,  at  that  time,  governed  by  their  own  princes. 
In  Ezek.  xxviii.  21 — 24,  there  are  tremendous  threats  de- 
nounced against  the  people  of  this  city,  which  were  ful* 


^  PALESTINE.  169 

filled  in  the  capture  and  destruction  of  the  place,  by  Ar- 
taxerxes  Ochus,  king  of  Persia,  350  years  before  the  birth 
of  Christ.  It  was  afterwards  rebuilt,  but  never  regained 
its  independence. 

Sidon  was  once  a  place  of  extensive  trade.  At  present 
its  harbour  is  choked  up  with  sands ;  and  its  commerce, 
though  it  still  subsists,  is  inconsiderable.  Its  modern  name 
is  Saida. 

9.  Tyre,  or  Tyrus,  one  of  the  most  ancient  cities  of  Phe- 
nicia,  now  called  Sur,  is  situated  on  a  peninsula,  which 
projects  into  the  sea  in  the  form  of  a  mallet,  terminating  in 
a  solid  rock  covered  with  earth,  800  paces  long,  and  400 
broad.  There  were  two  cities,  on  called  Palaetyrus,  or 
old  Tyre,  and  the  other  simply  Tyre.  The  former  Mas  situ- 
ated on  the  continent ;  the  latter  on  an  island.  Though 
less  ancient  than  Sidon,  Tyre  soon  rose  above  it,  and  be- 
came the  richest  mart  of  the  ancient  world.  In  Josh.  xix. 
29,  it  is  called  the  strong  city  Tyre,  and  in  2  Sam.  xxiv.  7, 
the  strong-hold  of  Tyre.  In  reference  to  its  antiquity,  Isaiah 
calls  it  a  city  whose  antiquity  is  of  ancient  days;  (xxiii.  7.) 
From  Hiram,  king  of  Tyre,  David  obtained  timber,  gold, 
and  workmen,  for  the  building  of  the  temple.  Hiram  also 
sent  his  ships  with  those  of  David  to  Ophir  and  Tarshish. 
(1  Kings  ix.  10—14,  27,  x.  22.) 

In  later  times,  the  friendship  of  the  two  nations  seems  to 
have  been  interrupted,  whence  the  prophets  Amos  and  Joel 
speak  of  Tyre  as  of  a  hostile  city.  (Amos  i.  9,  10,  Joel 
iii.  4.) 

At  the  time  of  the  Assyrian  invasion,  under  Salmanazar, 
Tyre  had  arrived  to  such  a  pitch  of  opulence  and  splen- 
dour, that  Isaiah  speaks  of  it  as  the  crowning  city,  whose 
merchants  are  princes,  whose  traffickers  are  the  honourable  of 
the  earth.  (Isa.  xxiii.  8.)  It  was  afterwards  taken  by  Ne- 
buchadnezzar, after  a  siege  of  thirteen  years ;  an  event 
predicted  by  Ezekiel ;  (xxvi.  xxvii.  xxviii.) 

Alexander  the  Great  made  several  unsuccessful  attempts 
to  take  Tyre,  and  at  length  succeeded,  by  filling  up  the 
strait,  and  uniting  the  island  to  the  continent. 

During  the  war  of  the  crusades.  Tyre  was  repeatedly 

conquered  and  re-conquered  by  the  contending  parties,  till 

about  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century  it  passed  into  the 

hands  of  the  Egyptian  sultan.   In  consequence  of  this  event, 

P 


170  GEOGRAPHY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

the  Christians  left  the  place,  and  its  manufactures  ceased. 
Since  that  time  it  has  gradually  declined,  and  is,  at  present, 
a  mere  hamlet,  consisting  of  not  more  than  fifty  families  of 
fishermen. 

10.  Mearah  and  Mizrepoth-maim  appear  to  have  heen 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sidon ;  (Josh.  xiii.  4,  xi.  8,  xiii. 
6 ;)  but  their  precise  situation  is  unknown. 

Phenicia  appears  to  have  been  divided,  from  the  earliest 
times,  into  a  number  of  independent  principalities.  Hiram, 
king  of  Tyre,  has  been  already  mentioned  as  a  contempo- 
rary and  confederate  of  David.  Ethbaal,  king  of  the 
Zidonians,  was  the  father  of  Jezebel,  the  wife  of  Ahab. 
(1  Kings  xvi.  31.)  Third  in  the  order  of  succession  after 
him,  came  Dido,  who  fled  from  her  cruel  and  avaricious 
brother  Pygmalion,  and  founded  Carthage,  on  the  coast  of 
Africa. 

About  seven  hundred  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ, 
the  Tyrians  appear  to  have  assumed  a  control  over  all  the 
other  cities  of  Phenicia,  though  Sidon  afterwards  achieved 
its  independence.  The  prophet  Jeremiah  speaks  of  am- 
bassadors sent  to  king  Zedekiah  by  the  kings  of  Tyre  and 
Sidon,  (xxvii.  3,)  to  solicit  his  co-operation  against  Ne- 
buchadnezzar. From  Ezekiel  xxvii.  8,  9,  11,  it  would 
seem  that  Tyre  was  again,  in  some  way,  at  the  head  of  the 
Phenician  states. 

After  this  period,  however,  they  were  conquered  suc- 
cessively by  the  Chaldeans,  Persians,  and  Macedonians.  On 
the  death  of  Alexander  the  Great,  Phenicia  fell  to  the  share 
of  Antiochus,  218  years  before  Christ.  Since  that  time  it 
has  always  shared  in  the  vicissitudes  of  Syria. 

The  Phenicians  are  conspicuous  in  history  as  having 
been  the  earliest  navigators.  Even  before  the  Trojan  war, 
more  than  1500  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  they  seem 
to  have  carried  on  a  foreign  trade  with  the  islands  of  the 
Mediterranean,  and  the  coast  of  Greece,  acting  sometimes  as 
kidnappers  and  pirates.  They  afterwards  extended  their 
voyages  to  Spain,  and,  in  the  reign  of  Solomon,  to  Ophir, 
on  the  southern  coast  of  Arabia.  (1  Kings  ix.  27,  28,  x.  22.) 
A  lively  picture  of  the  wide  extent  of  Phenician  com- 
merce, is  presented  in  the  27th  chapter  of  Ezekiel. 


PALESTINE.  171 

The  Phenicians  began  also  at  an  early  period  to  establish 
colonies  in  foreign  parts.     The  most  remarkable  of  these 

were  Tarshish,  (or  Tartessus,)  on  the  river  Guodalquiver 

Gades,  the  modern  Cadiz — Chittim,  or  Kittim,  the  isle  of 
Cyprus — and  Carthage,  on  the  northern  coast  of  Africa. 
In  Isaiah  xxiii.  6,  12,  the  prophet  exhorts  the  Tyrians, 
after  the  destruction  of  the  city,  to  pass  over  to  the  colonies 
of  Tarshish  and  Chittim.  Over  these  colonies  Tyre  ap- 
pears to  have  exercised  a  tyrannical  authority,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  Ezekiel  represents  them  as  exulting  over 
the  downfal  of  the  mother  country  ;  (xxvi.  17.) 

By  some,  the  Phenicians  are  supposed  to  have  invented 
the  art  of  writing.  Their  language  was  very  similar  to 
the  Hebrew. 


THE  END. 


GEOGRAPHICAL.  INDEX, 


Abana,  39. 

Appii  Forum,  77. 

Abarinij  52. 

Apollohia,  74. 

Abel-keramim,  50. 

Ar,  52. 

Abel-meholah,  136. 

Arabia,  46. 

Abilene,  41,  119. 

«     deserta,  47. 

Abel-shittim,  123. 

Arabia  felix,  or  happy  Arab 

Abraham,  river  of^  166. 

58. 

Acad,  23. 

Arabia  petraea,  or  stony  Ai 

Accho,  127. 

bia,  51. 

Achaia,  75. 

Aram.  37,  39. 

Achor,  vale  of^  90. 

Aram-beth-rehob,  40. 

Achshaph,  127. 

Aram  of  Damascus,  39. 

Achzib,  127. 

Aram-maacah,  40. 

Acmetha,  17. 

Aram-naharaim,  27. 

Adiabene,  25. 

Aram-zoba,  39. 

Adonis,  river^  166. 

Ararat,  kingdom  of  15,  16. 

AduUam,  162. 

Ararat,  mount,  16. 

Adummim,  92, 

Arba,  103. 

iEgaean,  orEgean,  71. 

Areopolis,  52. 

Aenon,  136. 

Arka,  167. 

Africa,  North,  69. 

Aikites,  104,  167. 

Ahiman,  103,  104. 

Annenia,  15. 

Ai,  vale  of,  89  142. 

Amon,  51,  100. 

Aiath,  142. 

Aroer,  50,  110. 

Aijah,  142. 

Arpad,  40. 

Ajalon,  vale  of  89,  161. 

Arphaxad,  25. 

Aleppo,  42. 

Arsinoe,  34. 

Alexandria,  65. 

Aruma,  136. 

Almon-diblathaim,  58. 

Arvad,  165,  167. 

Alush,  57. 

Arvadites,  104,  167. 

Amalekites,  54. 

Asekah,  161. 

Am  ana,  38. 

Ashan,  162. 

Amasia,  30. 

Ashdod,  164. 

Ammonites,  49. 

Asher,  tHhe  of  116. 

Amon-no,  66. 

Ashkenaz,  14. 

Amorites,  105. 

Ashtaroth,  112,  121. 

Amphipolis,  74. 

Asia,  29. 

Anakim,  103. 

Asia  Minor,  30.                   < 

Anathoth,  145. 

Askelon,  164. 

Ancyra,  37. 

Asphaltites,  lake,  95. 

Anti-libanus,  38. 

Asshur,  24. 

Antioch,  41. 

Assos,  82. 

Antonia,  tower  of  150# 

Assyria,  24. 

Antipatris,  159. 

Athens,  75. 

Aphek,  132,  158. 

Attalia,  34. 

p2 

173 

174 


GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Auranitis,  120. 
Avira,  103. 
Azotus,  164. 

Baalah,  144. 
Baal-gad,  43. 
Baal-meon,  109. 
Baal-perazim,  84. 
Babel,  21. 
Babylon,  20,  22. 
Balbec,  43. 
Bamoth,  58. 
Bashan,  86. 
Batanaea,  120. 

Beatitudes,  mount  of  tfWj  82. 
Beer,  58. 
Beeroth,  144. 
Beersheba,  93, 157. 
Belkah,  51. 
Bene-jaakan,  58. 
Benjamin,  tribe  of,  115. 
Berea,  75. 

Berothah,  44,  126.  '     / 

Berothai,  39,  44,  168.  / 

Besor,  100.  / 

Betah,  44.  / 

Beth-abara,  123.  I 

Bethany,  155.  ! 

Beth-aven,  93. 
Beth-bara,  123. 
Beth-eden,  44. 
Bethel,  137. 
Bethesda,  154. 
Beth-horon,  146. 
Beth-jesimoth,  123. 
Bethlehem,  155. 
Beth-diblathaim,  '52. 
Beth-nimrah,  111. 
Beth-peor,  91. 
Bethphage,  155. 
Bethsaida,  95,  121,  120. 
«        forests  of  92. 
Beth-shean,  17,  133. 
Beth-shemesh,  65,  160. 
Beyroot,  44,  168. 
Bezer,  123. 
Bithynia,  31. 
Bozrah,  122. 

Caesarea  Philippi,  120. 


Caesarea,  158. 
Calah,  25. 
Calneh,  23. 
Cana,  130. 
Canaan,  78. 
Canaanites,  104. 
Candia,  73. 
Capernaum,  95,  129. 
Caphtor,  73. 
Cappadocia,  35. 
Carchemish,  28. 
Caria,  34. 

Carmel,  mount,  81. 
Carmel,  141. 
Casluhim,  70. 
Cataractes,  34. 
Caves  of  Palestine,  87. 
Cayster,  32. 
Cedron,  100. 
Cerasus,  30. 
Chaboras,  27. 
Chalach,  25. 
Chalcedon,  31. 
Chaldea,  20. 
Charran,  28. 
Chebar,  27. 
Chephirah,  144. 
Cherith,  99. 
Chinnereth,  94. 
Chios,  71. 
Chittim,  72. 
Chorazin,  95,  129. 
Chrysorroas,  39. 
Chub,  69. 

Chushan-rishathaim,  29. 
Cilicia,  35. 
Cinneroth,  94,  128. 
Clauda,  73. 
Cnidus,  34. 
Ccele-Syria,  37. 
Colosse,  36. 
Coos,  or  Cos,  72. 
Corinth,  76. 

Corruption,  mount  of  84. 
Crete.  73. 
Cush,  59. 
Cushan,  59. 
Cutha,  23. 
Cydnus,  35. 
Cyprus,  72. 


GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


175 


Cyrene,  70. 
Cyrenaica,  70. 

Daberath,  131. 

Damascus,  43. 

Dan,  tribe  of,  116. 

Dan,  126. 

Daphne,  65. 

Debir,  157. 

Decapolis,  120. 

Dedan,  49,  59. 

Derbe,  36. 

Deserts  of  Palestine,  92. 

Diblathaim,  52. 

Dibon,  110. 

Dibon-gad,  58. 

Diospolis,  159. 

Division  among  tribes,  108. 

Dophkah,  57. 

Dor,  158. 

Dothan,  133. 

Dumah,  49. 

Dura,  23. 

East  Sea,  95. 
Ebal,  mount,  83. 
Ebronah,  58. 
Ecbatana,  17. 
Eden,  7. 
Edom,  53. 
Edrei,  112,  121. 
Egean  islands,  71. 
Eglon,  162. 
Egypt,  61. 

Egypt,  divisions  of  63. 
«      Lower,  64,  65. 
«      Middle,  66. 
"      Upper,  66. 

Ekron,  116,  163. 

Elah,  valley  of  89. 

Elam,  Elaraites,  18. 

Elanitic  Gulf,  55. 

Elath,  54. 

Elealeh,  109. 

Eleutherus,  39. 

Elim,  57. 

Ellasar,  29. 

Elishah,  76. 

El-Tyh,  55. 

Emim,  51,  103. 


Emmaus,  147. 
Endor,  131. 
En-eglaim,  101. 
En-gannin,  101. 
En-gedi,  wUdemess  of  93. 
En-gedi,  101,  141. 
Ephah,  55. 
Ephesus,  33. 
Ephraim,  city  of  138. 

«        forest  of  94. 

"        mount,  83. 

"        tHhe  of  113. 
Ephrath,  155. 
Erech,  23. 
Esdrelon,  82. 
Etham,  56. 
Ether,  162. 
Ethiopia,  59,  68. 
Euphrates,  8,  9. 
Ezion-geber,  54,  58. 

Fair  Havens,  73. 
Forests  of  Palestine,  92. 
Fertility  of  Palestine,  102. 

Gaash,  hill  of  83. 
Gad,  tribe  of  110. 
Gadara,  120,  121. 
Galatia,  37. 
Galilee,  124. 
Galilee,  sea  of,  94. 
Gallira,  145. 

Gates  of  Jerusalem,  148. 
Gath,  164. 
Gath-hepher,  130. 
Gaulonitis,  119. 
Gaza,  175. 
Gennesaret,  94. 
Geba,  142. 
Gebal,  168. 
Gebim,  146. 
Gerar,  165. 
Gerizim,  mount,  83. 
Geshur,  40. 
Gether,  13. 
Gethsemane,  153. 
Gezer,  146. 
Gibeah,  143. 
Gibeon,  143. 
Gideon,  valley  of  89. 


176 


GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


I 


Gideon,  wilderness  ofj  93. 
Gihon,  9. 
Gilboa,  82. 
Gilead,  111. 
Gilead,  mount,  86. 
Gilgal,  135, 140. 
Girgashites,  12. 
Gittah-hepher,  130. 
Gog,  14. 
Golan,  119,  121. 
Gomer,  11,  14. 
Goshen,  64,  157. 
Gozan,  26. 
Greece,  73,  74. 

Habor,  26. 
Hadrach,  40. 
Hagar-enan,  44. 
Hagarites,  48. 
Hai,  seeAi. 
Halah,  25. 
Halys,  29. 
Hamath,  40,  42. 
Hamathites,  104. 
Hanes,  66. 
Haradah,  57. 
Haran,  28. 
Hareth,  94. 
Harod,  101. 
Harosheth,  127. 
Hawran,  40. 
Hazar-hatticon,  44. 
Hazar-maveth,  60. 
Hazazon-tamar,  140. 
Hazeroth,  57. 
Hazor,  127. 
Hebrews,  land  ofj  79. 
Hebron,  90,  156. 
Helam,  45. 
Helbon,  42. 
Heliopolis,  43,  64. 
Henah,  28. 
Herakleopolis,  66. 
Hermon,  38. 
Hermus,  36. 
Heslibon,  109. 
Hethlon,  44. 
Hiddekel,  8, 9, 24. 
Hierapolis,  37. 
Hinnom,  90. 


Hippo,  95,  120. 
Hittites,  104,  106. 
Hivites,  104,  105. 
Hor,  mount,  38,  53,  58. 
Hobah,  44. 
Holy  Land,  79. 
Horeb,  mount,  56. 
Horim,  53. 
Horites,  87,  103. 
Horma,  158. 
Horonaim,  52. 

Iconium,  35. 

Idumea,  53. 

Ije-abarim,  58. 

Illyricum,  75. 

India,  78. 

Inhabitants  of  Canaan,  102. 

Ionia,  33. 

Ishmaelites,  48. 

Islands,  Isles  of  sea,  71. 

Islands  of  Egean,  71. 

Israel,  land  of,  78. 

"      kiTigdom  of,  117. 
Issachar,  tribe  of,  116.    ~ 
Italy,  76. 
Ituraea,  119. 

Jabbok,  100. 

Jabesh-gilead,  122. 

Jabneel,  163. 

Jabneh,  163. 

Jacob's  well,  101,  135. 

Jaffa,  159. 

Jahaz,  110. 

Jair,  towns  of,  112. 

Japho,  159. 

Javan,  74. 

Jazer,  sea  of,  96. 

Jebusites,  105. 

Jehoshaphat,  valley  of,  89, 154. 

Jericho,  139. 

"      plain  of,  88. 

"      waters  of  99. 

"      wilderness  of,  92. 
Jerusalem,  ancient,  147. 
"        modern,  152. 
Jetur,  49. 
Jezreel,  133. 

"      valley  of  88. 


GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


1T7 


Jezreel,  plain  of,  82. 
Jipthah-El,  vale  of^  88. 
Jokneam,  128. 
Joktan,  60. 
Joktheel,  53. 
Joppa,  159. 
Jordan,  97. 

"     plain  of^  87. 
Joseph,  territory  of,  113. 
Jotbathah,  58. 
Judah,  land  of^  79. 

"      mountains  of^  84. 

"      tribe  of,  112. 

"      wilderness  of,  93. 
Judea,  79, 112,  139. 
Juttah,  158. 

Kadesh,  53. 
Kanah,  99. 
Kedar,  48. 
Kedemoth,  124. 
Kedesh,  126. 
Kedesh-naphtali,  126. 
Kedron,  100. 
Kehelathah,  57. 
Keilah,  162. 
Kenath,  112. 
Kenites,  54,  104. 
Kibroth-hattaavah,  57. 
Kidron,  100. 
Kir,  26. 

Kir  of  Moab,  52. 
Kir-hareseth,  52. 
Kir-heres,  52. 
Kirjath,  144. 
Kirjath-aim,  109. 
Kirjath-baal,  144. 
Kirjath-jearim,  144. 
Kirjath-arba,  156. 
Kirjath-sepher,  157. 
Kishon,  99. 
Kittim,  72. 

Lachish,  161. 
Laish,  40,  145,  126. 
Lakes  of  Palestine,  94. 
Land  of  promise,  79. 
Laodicea,  36. 
Lasea,  73. 
Lebanon,  38,  81, 


Lebonah,  136. 
Lehabim,  70. 
Lesbos,  71. 
Leshem,  126. 
Libanus,  38. 
Libnah,  57,  161. 
Lod,  159.  • 

Lo-debar,  122. 
Lubim,  70. 
Ludim,  70. 
Luhith,  52. 
Luz,  136. 
Lybia,  70. 
Lycaonia,  35. 
Lycia,  34. 
Lye  us,  36. 
Lydia,  32,  72. 
Lystra,  36. 

Maacah,  40. 

Macedonia,  74. 

Madai,  17. 

Madian,  55. 

Madmen,  52. 

Madmenah,  146. 

Magdala,  129. 

Magog,  14. 

Mahanaim,  111. 

Makhelolh,  57. 

Makkedah,  161. 

Malta,  77. 

Manasseh,  tribe  of j  111,  114. 

Maon,  93,  141. 

Marah,  57. 

Marsyas,  36. 

Mash,  27. 

Mashmonah,  58. 

Mattanah,  58. 

Meander,  32. 

Mearah,  170 

Medaba,  109 

Media,  17. 

Megiddo,  132. 

'•'      waters  of,  99. 
Melah,  94. 
Melita,  77. 
Memphis,  66. 
Mephaath,  124. 
Meroe,  69. 
Meroro,  waters  of,  94. 


178 


GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Mesech,  14. 

On,  64. 

Mesopotamia,  27. 

Ono,  88. 

Mesha,  60. 

Ophir,  60. 

Midian,  49. 

Orontes,  39. 

Midianites,  54. 

Migdol,  62. 

Pactolus,  32. 

Migron,  141. 

Palestine,  78. 

Miletus,  34. 

Padan-aram,  27. 

Minni,  15. 

"        boundaries  of  79. 

Minnith,  49. 

"       face  of  the  land 

Mithcah,  57. 

of  80. 

Mitylene,  71. 

"        mountains  of  81. 

Mizpah,  111,  147. 

Palmyra,  43. 

Mizrepoth-maim,  170. 

Pamphylia,  34. 

Mizraim,  61. 
Moab,  plains  q^  91. 

Paphlagonia,  31. 

Paphos,  73. 

Moabites,  51. 

Paras,  19. 

Moladak,  158. 

Parthenius,  31. 

Moseroth,  58. 

Passengers,  valley  of  91. 

Mountains  of  Palestine,  81. 

Patara,  34. 

Myra,34. 

Pathros,  66. 

Mysia,  31. 

Pathrusim,  66. 

Patmos,  72. 

Nabatheans,  48, 51. 

Pelusium,  64. 

Nablus,  82. 

Peniel,  122. 

Nahaliel,58. 

Pentapolis,  70. 

Nain,  131. 

Penuel,  122. 

Naphish,  49. 

Peor,  mount,  52. 

Naphthali,  trihe  of,  116. 

Peraea,  119,  120. 

Nazareth,  130. 

Perazim,  mount,  84. 

Neapolis,74,135. 

Perga,  35. 

Nebaioth,  48. 

Pergamus,  32. 

Nebo,  86, 124. 

Perizzites,  104. 

Nice,  31. 

Persia,  19. 

Nicopolis,  74. 

Pharpar,  39. 

Nile,  62. 

Phenice,  73. 

Nimrim,  52. 

Phenicia,  165. 

Nineveh,  25. 

Phibeseth,  64. 

No,  66. 

Philadelphia,  32,  50. 

Nob,  146. 

Philippi,  74. 

Nod,  land  of  10. 

Philistines,  land  of  162. 

Noph,  66. 

Phrygia,  36. 

Nubia,  20. 

Phut,  70. 

North,  The  countries  so  called, 

Pi-hahiroth,  56. 

14. 

Pisidia,  35. 

Pison,  9. 

Oboth,  58. 

Pisgah,  86. 

Olivet,  mount  of,  84. 

Pithom,  64. 

Olivet,  84. 

Plains  of  Palestine,  87. 

Olympus,  mount,  31 

Pontus,  30. 

GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


179 


Ptolemais,  128. 

Scio,  71. 

Pul,  70. 

Scythians,  16. 

Punon,  58. 

Scythopolis,  17, 120, 133. 

P3rramus,  30. 

Sea  of  the  Plain,  95. 

Seba,  59,  69. 

Quarantania,  85. 

Seir,  mount,  85. 

Seirath,  139. 

Raamah,  59. 

Sela,  53. 

Raamses,  64. 

Seleucia,  41. 

Rabatha,  50. 

Sephar,  60. 

Rabbah,  52. 

Sepharvaim,  28. 

Rabbath,  50. 

Shamir,  138. 

«       Moab,62. 

Sharon,  88. 

Rahab,  61. 

Sheba,  49,  59, 60. 

Ramah,  144. 

Shechem,  83,  134. 

Ramathaim-zophim,  14 

Sheleph,  60. 

Rameses,  56, 64. 

Shenir,  38. 

Ramoth-gilead,  ill. 

Shepher,  57. 

Rehob,  126. 

Sheshac, 
Sheshach,  21. 

Rehoboth,  25,  42. 

Rephaim,  103. 

Sheshai,  103. 

"       vcdley  of,  89. 

Shihor,  62,  64. 

Reph'.dim,  57. 

Shiloh,  136. 

Reuben,  tribe  of,  109. 

Shinar,  20. 

Rezeph,  42. 

Shittim,  91,  123. 

Rhodes,  72. 

Shocoh,  162. 

Rhegium,  77. 

Shuhites,  49. 

Rhyndacus,  31. 

Shunem,  131. 

Riblah,  42. 

Shur,  desert  of,  62. 

Rimmon,  158. 

Shushan,  19. 

Rimmon-perez,  57. 

Sibmah,  97,  124. 

Riphath,  14. 

Sibraim,  44. 

Rissah,  57. 

Sichem,  134. 

Rithmah,  57. 

Siddim,  vale  of  96. 

Rivers  of  Holy  Land,  97. 

Sidon,  168. 

Rome,  76. 

Sidonites,  104. 

Sabtah,  59. 

Sihor,  62. 

Sabtecah,  59. 

Siloah,  153. 

Salcah,  112. 

Sin,  64. 

Salem, 

«     desert  of  ^1, 

Salim,  136. 

Sinai,  55. 

Salmon,  83. 

"      desert  of  67. 

Salmone,  73. 

Sinope,  31. 

Salt  sea,  95. 

Sion,  38,  149. 

Salt,  valley  of,  90,  96. 

Siphara,  28. 

Samaria,  132, 134. 

Sirion,  38. 

Samos,  71. 

Smyrna,  33. 

Sampsame,  31. 

Solomon,  inount  of  84. 

Sangarius,  31. 

Spain,  77. 

Sardis,  32. 

Springs  of  Palestine,  100. 

180 


GEOGRAPHICAL  INDEX. 


Springs,  warm,  102. 
Succoth,  56,  122. 

"        vale  ofi  91. 
Sukkiims,  69. 
Susiana,  18. 
Sychar,  135. 
Syene,  62,  67. 
Syria,  37. 
Syria-maacah,  40. 
Syro-phenicia,  165. 
Syracuse,  77. 

Taanach,  132. 
Taberah,  57. 
Tabor,  81. 
Tadmor,  43. 
Tahaphanes,  65. 
Tahaphnehes,  65. 
Tahath,  57. 
Tahpanhes,  65. 
Talmai,  103. 
Tamyras,  166. 
Tanis,  65. 
Tarah,  57. 
Tarichsea,  95. 
Tarshish,  77. 
Tarsus,  35. 
Tartessus,  77. 
Taurus,  mount,  29. 
Tekoa,  wilderness  of^ 
Tekoah,  156.  f^^^?^^^'' 
Tel-abib,  28. 
Tema,  49. 
Teman,  53. 
Thamar,43. 
Tharshish,  7 
Thebais,  66. 
Thebes,  66. 
Thebez,  136. 
Thelasar,  29. 
Themiscyra,  30. 
Thessalonica,  74. 
Three-taverns,  77. 
Thyatira,  32. 
Tiberias,  lake  of,  94. 
Tiberias,  95,  129. 
Tigris,  9,  24. 
Timnah,  161. 
Timnath,  161. 
Timnath-heres,  138. 


Timnath-serah,  138. 

Tiphsah,  42. 

Tirzah,  138. 

Tmolus,  32. 

Togarmah,  15. 

Tophet,  90. 

Trachonitis,  119. 

Trapezus,  30. 

Tribes,  where  settled,  108. 

Tripoli,  167. 

Trogyllium,  33. 

Troas,  31. 

Troy,  31. 

Tubal,  14. 

Tyre,  169. 

Tyrus,  169. 

Ur  of  the  Chaldees,  28. 
Uz,  47. 
Uzal,  60. 

Valleys  of  the  Holy  Land,  88, 

West,  countries  so  called,  71 

Zaanan,  162. 
Zalmonah,  58. 
Zamzummim,  50,  103. 
Zared,  52,  58. 
Zartanah,  136. 
Zebulon,  tribe  of,  115. 
Zedad,  44. 

Zemaraim,  mount,  83. 
Zemarites,  104,  107,  167„ 
Zenan,  162. 

Zephathah,  valley  of,  89. 
Zered,  52,  58. 
Zeredah,  136. 
Zeredathah,  136. 
Zezon-tamar,  105. 
Zidon,  168. 
Ziklag,  159. 
Zin,  desert  of,  58. 
Zion,  149. 
Ziph,  141. 

Ziph,  wilderness  of,  93. 
Ziphron,  44. 
Zoan,  65. 
Zoar,  141. 
Zobah,  27,  39. 
Zorah,  126,  160. 


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rX  ^ 


f)^  M' 


i^'^^ 


